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LIGHTS AND SHADOWS

SEWICKLEY LIFE;

OR,

MEMORIES OF SWEET VALLEY.

AGNES L. ELLIS.

" The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel."

Shakespeare.

Philadelphia:
PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.

1893.

j ICE KEAV lORK

PUBLIC LIBPvABY

59587B

ASTCB, LETJOX AND
TILDBN FOUSPATIONS
1940 L

Agnes L. Ellis.

THE "BOYS AND GIRLS"
WHO SHARED THE SI'ORTS AND PLEASURES OF CHILDHOOD AND THE

CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE OF RIPER YEARS;
AND TO

THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS,

EACH ONE OF WHOM HAS A WARM CORNER IN THE

HEART OF

THE AUTHOR.

' Men are only boys grorcn tall,
Hearts don't change much after all.'"

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PACE

Skwickley, from Andkrson's

Hill Frontispiece

James McLaughlin .... 25
Kesidenue of H. p. Hers-

PERGER -9

Rev. Joseph S. Travelli . . 43

John R. Garrison 59

Bruce Tracy 59

J. P. Kramer 63

Robert Glancy 63

Philo Goff 63

William Reno 63

Rev. John AVhite 67

Rev. Charles Thorn .... 71

Rev. Robert Hopkins ... 75

M. E. Churches 79

31. E. Church 83

Hon. J. W. F. White ... 87

John N, White, Esq. ... 87

John Johnston 91

B. C. Christy, Esq. .... 01

Rev. H. L. Chapman, D.D. . 95

John A. Rosensteel .... 99

Built 1818 103

Rev. D. E. Nevin 107

Rev. James Allison .... Ill

Presbyterian Church ... 115

Rev. J. B. Bittinoer, D.D. . 119

Rev. W. O. Campbell, D.D. 123

First Presbyterian Church 127

PAGE

William Woods, M.D. . . . 131

George H. Starr 131

Theodore H. Nevin .... 135

Robert H. Davis 135

W. W. Waters 139

Leetsdale Presbyterian

Church 143

Rev. R. S. Van Cleve ... 147

Rev. James L. Reed .... 151

William Abercrombie . . . 155

Shields' School-House . . . 159
Interior of St. Stephen's

Episcopal Church .... 163

Rev. Robert Benton .... 167
St. James's Roman Catholic

Church 171

Rev. W. a. McKenzie ... 175

Prof. Thomas E. Wakeham 175

Robert Dickson 175

John Thompson 175

Alexander McElwain ... 177

James Ellis 177

Frank McClelland .... 177

William Miller 177

Rev. W. L. AVallace, D.D. . 181

Rev. a. G. Wallace, D.D. . 183
First United Presbyterian

Church 187

Elmer E. Miller 189

First Baptist Church . . . 193

List of Illustrations .

PAGE

Kev. John W. Moody . . . 197

Jacob Boobyer, Jr 199

John Dickson, M.D .... 205

John Way, Sr 211

D. L. S. Neely 215

Milton B. Goff 221

Hon. James M. Loughridge 225

C. S. EiNEHART 229

G. F. Muller 229

William S. Dickson .... 233

Homer Jay Rose, A.M. , . . 237

Hon. D. N. White 2il

I'AGE

Robert P. Nevin 245

Colonel John I. Nevin . . 263

Sewickley" Station 271

Samuel McCleery 275

Joseph W. Warren .... 279

Hon. George H. Anderson . 283

John Patton, Jr 287

Athletic Grounds 291

R. J. Murray, M.D 301

John D. McCord, Jr. .... 301

John B. Van Cleve .... 305

fc^

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PREFACE.

HE kind reception given to "Lights and
Sliadows of Sewickley Life," by both okl and
new residents, as well as many who had only
had a passing glimpse of our beautiful Valley,
has led me to yield to the request for another edition,
"enlarged so as to embrace all the church history and
other important matters not already noted."

It is very gratifying to hear from many sources that
the historical facts and dates are all correct.

Although the research necessary has been an arduous
task, the labor has been lightened and made pleasant by
the renewal of friendships formed in childhood, as well
as the many beautiful tributes (often from unlooked-for
sources) to the memory of the parents to whose early
training and devoted Christian lives I owe so much.

To all who have aided me in any* way in regard to
the " memories of the olden time," I hereby return sin-
cere thanks.

It has been impossible to secure the jiortraits of some
of the early residents, much to my regret.

To the old classmates into whose hands this may fall
I extend a kindly greeting.

Agnes L. Ellis.

Sewickley, Pa.

:-4 ^.^: ;. i%.

x-^

TESTIMONIALS.

We cull some of the kind words of friends from the
many testimonials received :

" Sewickley, Pa.
"Miss A. L. Ellis:

" I am glad j'ou are pre^^aring a second and improved edition
of your very interesting little book, 'Lights and Shadows of
Sewickle}' Life.'

"It required much patience and industry to gather the facts
and anecdotes of the earh' inhabitants, and you have woven
them into a beautiful coronal, which should be highly prized by
all their descendants, and be a bright ornament on the centre-
table of every family in our Valley.

"It is well to preserve the ftices and names and memories of
our fathers and the incidents of local histoiy. They arc always
interesting, and grow more interesting with passing years. They
will be read and cherished long after you and I have passed away.

"J. W. F. White."

" Miss Agnes :

"I have read your book Avith much interest, — more, perhaps,
than most of our Sewickley people, — for I am at a point of life
where I have long stretches backward, and can see much more
of the past than the young people of our now beautiful town.

"You have done a kindly thing in preserving in print the
pleasant thino;s of the 'lone; a<2;o.' Surelv, vou deserve not credit
onl3% but thanks also; and of both these I beg to express
heartily my share.

" John Way, Jr.

" Sewickley, Pa."

12 Testimonials.

"My Dear Miss Ellis:

"I have great pleasure in congratulating you on the conclusion
of your historical sketches. As I believe that work done not
simply as a task, but cheerfully, as a labor of love, and Avith
painstaking effort to make it complete, even apart from the
magnitude of the undertaking, deserves a generous reward, so I
trust you may have yours from the community you have served.
I feel confident that your history will he more fully appreciated
with the lapse of years, when all who have been associated with
the early history of the valley shall have passed away.

" Yery truly yours,

" Wm. O. Campbell,
" Pastor First Presbyterian Church.
"Sewickley. Pa."

"My Dear Miss Ellis:

"It gives me great pleasure to know that you are about to
publish some histoiMcal sketches of Sewickley and its surround-
ings. Local history should be preserved with great care.

" Memories fade, but records are permanent.

"The personal interest you have in our beautiful Yalley will
give vividness to your sketches.

" I cordiallj^ commend the work you have undertaken, and
wish you success in your effort to keep fresh the memories of the
past. I am yours most trul}^,

" A. G. Wallace.

" Sewickley, Pa."

"My Dear Miss Ellis:

" May success attend your efforts ; you deserve it !

"I am sure the new edition will be creditable alike to author
and publisher, and will be welcomed by every loj'al son and
daughter of Sewickley.

" The ' lights and shadows' of half a century, which you have
so faithfully and lovingl}^ endeavored to fix upon the pages of
your book, may not, probably will not, be a source of wealth, but
they certainly will be a source of great pleasure to yourself and
every true Sewickley an.

Testimonialx. 1 3

"My own life in tiie beautiful N'lilley has been scai'cel}' twenty
years, yet do I feel that all its memories are. a part of mine in-
heritance, so deeply and strongly have my associations taken
root.

" I have, therefore, only words of commendation and encour-
ao-ement for one who, in love and sympathy, is trying to preserve
something of the landmarks, the every-day life, the flotsam past
and pi-esent of Sewickley. Yours very truly,

" W. W. Waters.

" Sewickley, Pa."

"My Dear Miss Ellis:

"I am glad that you are thinking of reprinting those 'old
memories' of Sewickle}'. Such things become more valuable as
years go by and the ranks of those who can remember the old
times are thinned by death. In a place of such rapidlj'-changing
population as Sewickley, it is doubly important and interesting
that the 'old residents,' of whom we have so few, should pre-
serve their recollections in some such permanent form as j'ou
have given to your reminiscences.

" Yours cordiall}^,

" Lucy F. Bittinger.

" Sewickley, Pa."

"As an epitome of the village and the Valley, it is a work that
must grow and deepen in interest as time passes, and thanks are
due Miss Ellis for her labor, which was evidently one of love." —
East End Bulletin.

" My Dear Miss Ellis :

"I have been greatlj^ pleased with and interested in your
charming little book. It is a chapter of local history that Avill
grow more valuable with every j^ear.

" Mrs. E. a. Wade (Bessie Bramble).

" Edgewoodville."

" We are reading your delightful little book like Miss Mitford's
' Our Village.' Cordially yours,

" Perry Mason k Co.
" Boston, Mass."

14 Testimonials.

"Dear Miss Ellis:

" I am greatly obliged for the copy of ' Lights and Shadows of
Sewicklev Life' sent to Washington. I have been looklno; over
it this morning with a great deal of interest.

" Yours truly, M. S. Quay."

"To those who have been long familiar with the Valley, your
beautiful book, ' Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life,' must
prove quite a treasure. J. S. Bracken, D.D.,

" Pastor Union M. E. Church, Allegheny, Pa."

" The thoughts are well matured, beautifully clothed, and so
natural that one feels as though they were by 3'our side, living
the days of youth over again.

"Mrs. J. S. Bracken."

"My Dear Friend:

"I enjoyed reading the '^weet Yalley' very much, and it re-
called many pleasant as well as the sad memories of the past.

" I sent several copies to old friends, and also to some of the
pupils of ' Sewickley Academy.' All who saw and read the little
book were much interested in it, and grateful to the author for
recalling the happy school-days with so maii}^ pleasant associa-
tions. Your friend,

"Eliza I. T. Glenn.
" WoosTER, Ohio."

"I wish you great success with your venture. You have a

M'ide and interesting field for your book.

" Yery sincerely yours,

" W. H. Locke.
"East Liverpool, Ohio."

" Dear Eriend :

" Would that the spirit had moved you to begin 3^our work
several years sooner.

Testimonials.

'The vcneral)le wliitc heads arc dit?appearing one by one, and
with thein the recollections of those earlier years of hardship
and noble endeavor.

" To gather these memories must be an interesting work, and
the gift of preserving them for future generations is an enviable
one. That you may 1)0 enlirelv successful, is the sincere wish of

"Mrs. p. J). NicoLs.

''Sewickley, Pa."

CHAPTER I.

''Happy tliG man, iVoin busy cares withdrawn,
Who seeks the sweets of rural ease,
Where every spot hath power to please."

iEWICKLEY, a borougb of nearly 5000 in-
habitants, on the bank of the Ohio Kiver,
twelve miles below Pittsburg, is a very dif-
ferent place from the Sewickley we knew
before the days of railroads, telegraph, and telephones.

The first time that Sewickley appears in history is in
connection with Colonel Morgan, a native of Phihidel-
phia, Pa., who commanded the first military company
sent by that city to take part in the war of the Pevolu-
tion. He was sent to Fort Pitt as an Indian agent.

The Delaware Indians, who then occupied the Valley,
in gratitude for kindness received at his hands, offered
as a free gift, to him and his children, "all the ground
from the hills to the river, for a distance of six miles."
Although deeply touched by their kindness, Colonel
Morgan declined to accept this reward for " merely
doing his duty."

By a treaty made October 23, 1784, at Fort Stanwix,
the six nations — viz., the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas,
Senecas, Cayugas, and Tuscaroras — sold to Penn the lands
north and west of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers.

•1 17

18 Lights and. Shadows of Sewiekley Life.

This treaty was ratified by the Wyandots and Dela-
wares in January, 1785.

By Act of March 12, 1783, anticipating above pur-
chase, part of said lands, including those on which
Sewickley now stands, was set aside

" For the redemption of the Certificates of Deprecia-
tion given to the officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania
Line, in pursuance of an Act of December 18, 1780,
2:)roviding that the certificates should be equal to gold or
silver in ^^ayment of unlocated lands, if the owners
should think proper to purchase such."

The Act of 1780 was passed to encourage enlistment
and reward those who in the Revolutionary War entered
the military service in the Pennsylvania Line and the
State Navy.

An order for the survey of these lands was issued to
the Surveyor-General, June 10, 1788. The lands were
divided into districts for convenience of survey, and
Sewickley was in the Second Depreciation District, which
was assigned to Daniel Leet. Through the knowledge
of the country thus obtained, Daniel Leet secured pos-
session of that large and valuable body of lands on the
Sewickley bottom which descended to his daughter, the
late Mrs. Shields, wife of David Shields.

The first lands sold in Leet's district went at the
average price of eight shillings five pence, or about two
dollars per acre. These sales were made at the "Old
CofPee-House," Philadelphia.

In 1786, Mr. Daniel Leet owned the tracts numbered
7, 8, and 9. In 1791 he owned, in addition to these,
numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Lights and Shadows of Scwlcklci/ Life. 1 9

The names given in the original patents to these tracts
owned by Mr. Daniel Leet were: o, Newbury; 4, Nor-
wich ; 5, Newington ; 6, Lincoln ; 7, Locust Bottom ;
8, Sugar Bottom ; 9, Leetsburg.

No. 2, a tract of two hundred acres, adjoining tlie
present borough limits and extending to what is now
called Edgeworth Avenue, was purchased from the State,
in 1785, by Mr. Caleb Way, of Chester County, at the
sale in Philadelphia, and was occupied by his son John
Way (grandfather of John Way, Jr.) in 1797.

Mr. Way occupied a log-house, which stood near the
site of the Sewickley gas-works at Quaker Valley, until
his new house was completed.

It was built in 1810, and, being the only brick house
between Pittsburg and Beaver, was spoken of as "the
brick housed It is now occujjied by Mr. Hay AValker.

In talking over old times with one of Sewickley 's
oldest residents lately, he told me that during the
memorable time when the spotted fever, or " black
plague," raged in this vicinity, Squire Way and his wife,
who lived in " the brick house," were the only persons
willing to venture near the smitten ones; so, when every
one else refused to enter the dwellings of the fever
patients, they kept two horses saddled night and day,
riding here and there, ministering to the sick and dying
and caring for the dead. Such heroism is worthy of
record, that those who never knew them in the flesli may
be influenced by the spirit which led them.

The first white settler in Sewickley borough was
Henry Ulery, a German sea-captain, who loved to
recall his adventures and perilous sea-voyages for the

20 Lights and Shadows of SewlcMey Life.

entertainment of those who came to be his neighbors in
after years.

The tract of land No. 1, called Loretta, was pnrchas^ed
at the government sale at Philadelphia by Levi Hollings-
worth, who, before receiving the j^atent for it, transferred
it to Mark Wilcox, January 19, 1786, who, December
6, 1786, conveved it to Jonathan Leet. On the 10th of
April, 1798, Jonathan Leet sold it to Henry Ulery.

Heretofore the Indians had liad full possession, and
for many years after the land was sold, the "trail" was
seen across the river, and after they had left the canoes
on this side, running past the property now owned by
Mrs. R. H. Davis. The narrow path was called for
years, " Wheelbarrow Alley."

Henry Ulery built a log-house on the bank of the
river, not far from the spot now occupied by Park Place
Hotel.

He had some pretty sharj) battles with tlie Indians,
who he felt were invading his rights, as they were in
the habit of hel^^ing themselves to corn and other
articles of which they were in need.

But what of the Indian's rio-hts? As thev were
driven from place to place, no doubt their thoughts were
like those of the Indian hunter, —

" Oh, why does the white man follow my path

Like a hound on the tio-er's track ?
Does the flush on ray dark skin waken his wrath ?

Does he covet the bow at my back?
There are rivers and seas where billows and breeze

Bear riches for him alone,
And the sons of the wood never plunge in the flood

Which the white man calls his own.''

Lights (Did Shadows of SciricJclcj/ Life. 21

Mrs, Ulery was very tender and kind to tlie red men,
and often snpplied tlieir wants during the absence of her
husband.

Wishing for better water tlian the river supplied, Mr.
Ulery commenced to dig a well. After the workmen
had oone down a number of feet, a rain-storm came on
and put a stop to the work. Two of the children, taking
advantage of the rope that was left hanging from the
windlass, arranged it for a swing. The younger of the
two wandered off, leaving the other, a very little fellow,
swinoincr eontentedlv. After a time the elder one was
missed, and searched for in vain. At last, in the half-
dug w^ell, which contained a good quantity of w^ater from
the recent rain, the little one was found — dead.

The stone for building up the well was brought from
the other side of the river (a little distance below) in a
canoe.

During one of these trips, when a boy who worked
for Mr. Henry Ulery was crossing with his load, a sud-
den storm came up, and the canoe was upset, the boy
beins; drowned.

These two calamities had a very depressing effect upon
the mind of Mrs. Ulery, and, as they were not very
prosperous during the years they were on that farm, she,
saying their bad fortune was all because of the dreadful
well, persuaded her husband to sell out.

A short time ago, Mrs. Kingley, daughter of Mr.
Tracy, who bought three acres of that old tract, includ-
ing the spot occupied by the cabin and well, gave me a
drink from that old well, which is now ninety-five years
old, with its walls still in good condition. It is regularly

22 Lights and Shadows of Sewlckley Life.

cleaned, kept in repair, and used by Mr. Ringley's
family.

Henry Ulery sold the farm in 1810 to Thomas Hoey,
grandfather of Mrs. Judge White and Mrs. Harbaugh,
of this place. In the Recorder's office in Pittsburg we
find in an old volume, — " Henry Ulery sold to Thomas
Hoey, for the sum of $4000, lawful money of the U. S.,
.... a piece of land situate in Ohio Township, Alle-
gheny County, and Commonwealth aforesaid, called
' Leretto,' in Leet's district. No. 1, beginning at a hoop
ash tree on the bank of the Ohio River, thence by lot
No. 2, the property of John Way, Esq., north forty-nine
and a half degrees, east two hundred and seventy -five
perches, to a white oak saplin on the bank of said river,
thence down the same, four hundred and twenty perches,
to the place of beginning."

Mr. Hoey lived in the log house until the stone house,
near the same spot, which he occupied for years, was
built. His home was a stop2:)ing-place for all the min-
isters who sought refuge for themselves and food and
shelter for their horses.

Amono" the childish memories which his dau2;hter,
Mrs. Thorn, loved to recall to her children, were those
in connection with the large sugar camp below the hotel.
It was all such a time of delight, from the time the sweet
water was collected until the time when the delicious
syrup was taken from the kettles.

Mr. Hoey's farm and the adjoining land, owned by
Mr. Beer, extended from Osburn to Quaker Valley,
where the farm of Squire Way (grandfather of Mr.
John AVay) began.

LighU and SIkuJows of Scwickfei/ Life. 23

Father McClelhiiul, the first Methodist preacher in
the Valley, often put up there.

At the foot of the stairway, standing by the window
in a room fronting on the river, in that stone house, Kev.
Charles Thorn and Miss Sophronia, daughter of Thomas
Hoey, were married.

Mr. Thomas Beer bought a large tract of land ad-
joining that of Mr. Hoey's in 1802 from "John Vail
and 8arah his wife."

The division line of these two tracts was in early times
called *" Graveyard Lane," from the fact that the acre
of ground on the south into which this lane, running
directly noi-tli and south and separating the two farms
of Mr. Hoey and Mr. Beer, entered, had been given by
these two gentlemen during the plague of 1809-10 that
the inhabitants might have a place to bury their dead.

The tract owned by Mr. Beer had been purchased from
the government by Henry Pratt in 1786, who, Septem-
ber 7, 1793, sold it to Jonathan Leet. April 7, 1802,
Jonathan Leet sold it to John Vail, who, in 1810, sold
it to Thomas Beer. Tiiat tract of land was called Aleppo,
and contained two hundred and thirty-four acres, ninety-
one perches.

The tract adjoining, consisting of two hundred and
five acres, also belonged to Mr. Pratt. It was owned
for many years by James Park and his son. Osburn
Borough occupies much of the Park farm ; it contains
many handsome residences, owned by Messrs. Thomas
Hare, James Arrott, Marshall McDonald, and others.

William McLaughlin, great-grandfather of Mrs. P. D.
Nicols, of our borough, bought a tract of land from the

24 Lights and Shadows of Seiolckley Life.

government, in 1798, several miles back of the borough
limits, in what is now called Sewickley Township.

He is described as being a tall, stately gentleman, of
commanding appearance. He married a Miss McMichael.
In 1820 he taught a private school near the home of Mr.
Jacob Fry, who after his death succeeded him as teacher.
Mr. McLaughlin was a well-educated man for the time
in which he lived, and had much force of character.

Mr. James McLaughlin, his son, whose portrait we
give, is remembered by many of the old residents of
the borough. He was connected with its first religious
organizations, a godly man, and "wonderfully gifted in
prayer." He and his wife, who was a daughter of Colo-
nel Campbell, lived on the old farm with their three
children for many years.

Mr. McLaughlin was highly respected by all in the
neighborhood, and to many of those who brought their
grievances, fancied or real, to him, he acted the j^art of
"peacemaker," sending those who had come as enemies
away in the most friendly relations.

Mr. William McLaughlin was a Scotch-Irishman, who
came from the East, travellino; over the mountains in
one of the so-called " bell-teams," an immense covered
wagon drawn by six horses, all decorated with bells.

The original name was McGlachlin. They had four
children,-^James, whom we have already mentioned ;
William, the father of Louise McLaughlin, the famous
artist and author ; John, who enlisted and was never
heard from after the battle of "Orleans;" and Ann, who
became Mrs. Gordon, mother of Rev. James Gordon,
late of Eldorado, Kansas.

JAMES McLaughlin.

THE NEW YORK

PURLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR. LENOX AND

TILPBN FOUNDATIONS

B L

Lights (Old Shadows of Sewlcklci/ Life 27

111 1805 Robert Liiin came from Ireland, and soon after
settled on the farm near Mr. McLaughlin, which is now
owned by his son Hugh, who is living in a substantial
frame house not many rods from the spot where the old
house stood in which he was born eighty years ago. Mrs.
Hudi Linn, who was Miss Ann S. I)e Putron, came with
her father's family from Guernsey Island to America
in 1830. After stopping at Cleveland, they travelled
from there to Pittsburg in a " bell-team," stopping over
night at Fife's Hotel, the building on Beaver Street
afterwards used by Mr. Travelli for an academy.

Some years after, Mr. De Putron returned with his
family to Sewickley and bought from Mr. John Fife
(grandfather of Dr. Thomas Grimes, of this place) the
cottage which he had built in 1834 and thirty acres of
ground, where deer and wild ducks sported in great
abundance.

Mv. Thomas Hoey died in that house one Sunday
morning: in the summer of 1838, where he had been
carefully and tenderly nursed by his daughter, Mrs. Fife,
during his last illness. This, house, now owned and
occupied by Mr. W. P. Hersperger, is the oldest house
in the borouQ-h.

Mrs. Elizabeth Grimes was married in the cottage in
1834, soon after its completion. Her father, John Fife,
Jr., was the son of John Fife, of Upper St. Clair Town-
ship, Allegheny County, one of the two pioneer brotlrfers
who came to that reajion in 1793 from Scotland.

John Fife, Jr., the owner of the cottage and hotel, had
lived near New Lisbon, Ohio, where Mrs. Grimes was
born, removing to Sewickley in 1824.

28 Lights and Shadows of SewicJdey Life.

Mrs. Linn, who was married in the cottage in 1839,
by Rev. John White, says that, although an addition
was built to the back of the house, the front, the main
building, is very little changed. It was a frame house,
painted cream color, with green trimmings.

\¥hen being shown through the house lately by Mrs.
Hersperger, we came to the low-ceiled room over the
parlor, the play-room of her little six-year-old daughter,
by whose tiny hands it is kept in beautiful order, a story
told by those connected with the cottage in early times
came to mind.

After Mr. De Putron's family had taken possession of
their new home, Mr. John Fife, the former owner, paid
them a visit, and said, " I sold you the house and all its
belongings, with one exception ; come with me." Going
to the upper room, which was lined with narrow boards,
" ploughed and grooved," vvdth no sign of an opening
anywhere, he walked to one corner and, lifting out a
short board, reached in his hands aiid drew out a bag of
gold and silver so heavy that it taxed his strength to
carry it.

When Mr. De Putron moved to his house on the hill,
near the present residence of Mrs. John Fleming, Dr.
William Woods came from Pittsburg and took possession.
There, Mr. Charles G. Woods, of Osborn Borough,
well known to all our citizens, was born.

The first store-keepers in Sewickley were Kobert and
James Green, who came from the East and opened a
general country store in a log-house which stood front-
ing the Beaver Boad, just where Grimes Street com-
mences, by the Baptist Church.

TEE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIB'RARY

Lights and Shadows of Sewicldei/ Life. 31

111 a short time James returned to his home east of
the moiiiitaiiis, and Kobert built a frame house on a lot
which he had bought from Mr. John Little. Two of
Mr. Green's daughters now occupy the house, which
adjoins the residence of Mr. Franks, on Beaver Street.

Robert married Miss Eliza Smith, grand-daughter of
Mr. Bean, of the Valley, now called Leetsdale.

The oldest resident of the borough is Mr. Jacob F.
Kingley, now in his ninety-third year. He came to
Sewickley in 1848. He is a native of Germany.

The oldest resident born in the Valley is Mr. John
Larimore, now eighty years old. He was born at Leets-
dale, and remembers much about the early days, when
all that was cleared of the Valley was almost one im-
mense corn-field, the ground producing " sick wheat/^
and the oats growing so rank that they fell and rotted.
Between the rows of corn, the Spanish needles and
Jersey weed flourished so abundantly that, before the
corn could be pulled up (which was the mode instead of
cutting) and thrown out on the heap ready for husking,
a boy had to be mounted on a horse dragging brush
between the rows to clear out the intruders.

Mr, William Larimore, father of John Larimore,
moved to Sewickley Bottom, now Leetsdale, just one
hundred years ago.

Mr. Nathan McPherson, grandfather of Mr. Robert
L. McPherson, who was one of our " brave soldier-boys,"
was another of the very early settlers at or before the
time of Mr. Larimore.

Rev. Thomas McClelland bought the farm on which
his son Louis now lives in his seventy-ninth year, in

32 Lights and Shadoics of Seicickley Life.

1810. It is situated six miles to the north-east of the
borough. The ground cost one dollar and twenty-five
cents an acre.

Mr. McClelland was the first Methodist to hold re-
ligious services in Pittsburg, preaching in a foundry
near " the Point," I am informed by his son. He or-
ganized the first class in Sewickley Valley, in the house
of Jesse Fisher, which was also a regular preaching-
place for the Methodists until the frame meeting-house,
which was used for a number of years, was built near
Mr. Leet's mill.

Another old resident who lived near Mr. McClelland
was Mr. Basil Davis, who had jDurchased his farm for
twenty-five cents an acre. He carried on sugar-making,
as there were quite a number of sugar-maple trees on
his farm, for each pound of which he received twenty-
five cents; so each pound of sugar just paid for an acre
of land. Not far from that farm was another which, as
an old resident puts it, " was bought for three hams of
meat." Still another, a tract of three hundred acres,
was paid for with a horse. This tract, exactly north-
east of Sewickley Borough, comprises two of the best
farms in the neighborhood to-day.

Mr. Thomas Neill came to Sewickley in 1830. He
was a native of Ballymena, Ireland.

Mrs. Jacob Whitesell, mother of Frank Whitesell,
Esq., was a daughter of Mr. Neill. The farm on which
she spent her girlhood was a few miles back of the village.

Mr. John Little bought the farm owned by Mr. John
Hoey, one of Thomas Hoey's children, in 1832. The
house occupied by Mr. Hoey stood about on the site of

L'u/lits and Shadows of Seirick/c)/ Life. 33

Dr. Jennings's house, corner of Beaver and Walnut
Streets.

Mr. Samuel Little, his son, resides near the site of the
house in which his father kept a travellers' hotel for
many years.

Many of the farms, among which may be mentioned
those of Frederick Merriman, Jacob Fry, Captain Mur-
ray, and the one on which Mr. Besterman has lived for
the past twenty-five years, were originally comprised in
the twelve hundred acres which James Moore, grand-
father of Mr. John Moore, usually called "Commodore
Moore," owned at one time on these Sewickley hills.

James Moore belonged to the Buffalo Valley, and was
one of General Washinoton's scouts during; the Revolu-
tionary War. Besides these twelve hundred acres, we
find it on record that he owned six thousand acres in
Kentucky.

It shows something of the character of the man, as we
remember the story about the Indian whose tomahawk
grazed his side as he hurled it from his covert at the
white man, when, upon searching for and finding the
Indian, himself wounded and helpless, Mr. Moore con-
veyed him to a place of safety, and, like the good
Samaritan, bound up his wounds and nursed him back
to health.

John, one of Mr. Moore's sons, who died out on the
old farm twelve hours after he was bitten by a rattle-
snake, was on his way to the new possessions, his sister
Mary accompanying his fiiniily. When somewhere on the
mountains, as they travelled slowly along, Jacob Fry, a
lover of Mary's, riding on horseback, overtook the party,

34 Lights and Shadows of Seioichley Life.

and offered lier on the spot his heart and hand, begging
for an early marriage.

Now, it was never known that any command of the
stately father, who, arrayed in his cloak and hat, with his
military bearing and commanding apj^earance, inspired
his children with awe, was ever disobeyed ; so Mary re-
plied, " I will never marry you until you bring me the
written consent of my parents."

Quickly the horse's head was turned towards the home
of the brave scout, and before the party reached their
journey's end, Jacob presented himself with the neces-
sary document, and erelong received his reward.

To Frederick Merriman, James Moore gave " three
hundred acres, more or less," of his large farm, for a
gun, an iron kettle, and a sled. This farm was situated
on the hill at the head of " Turkey-foot Run." His son
lives in the same house in which his father lived in 1810.
To another he gave one hundred acres for three hams.

About 1813, a nervous, timid man saw one of the
settlers, wearing a coonskin cap and carrying a cane,
going into a neighbor's house on the farm (Mr. Merri-
man's), and as there were still two or three Indians
roaming about, and not seeing the face of the white man,
he ran, telling that an Indian had gone in and killed all
the family. All the settlers in the neighborhood fled
for their lives, some of them escaping over the river, and
fearing to return until informed by the unsus23ecting
family, after a time, of the true state of affairs.

When Mr, Thomas Hamilton's family came from
Pittsburg to take possession of their farm, they put up
at Mr. Linn's, a brother-in-law's house. Mr. William

Lights and Shadoirs of Sewicklei/ Life. 35

Hnmilton, one of the sons (father of Captain Tliomas
Hamilton), was then a child of seven years of age.

The morning after their arrival, he was frightened
upon seeing all the men in the surrounding country
armed with axes, hatchets, etc., collecting. They set
to work felling trees and hewing logs, and by night-fall
the house of one room was finished, and the family took
possession of it. In that house Mr. Robert Glancy was
born, and it stood until lately on the form now owned
by the children of the late Dr. Douglass.

The gun which was given in Y>a,vt payment to Mr.
Moore for the three hundred acres had been a com-
panion of Frederick Merriman both in peace and war.
He was one of General Wayne's soldiers, and afterwards
became a squatter on the farm which Mr. William
McLaughlin had purchased from the State, being the
first white settler on the Sewickley Hills. He was
offered for the gun forty acres of land in " Allegheny
Town," comprising the spot now occupied by City Hall,
Carnegie Library, etc., but refused the offer, and made a
bargain with Mr. Moore for the farm.

Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Means both purchased farms in
the same neighborhood in 1813. Mrs. Rebecca Dickson
lives on the old Mitchell farm, and Mr. Jose[)h Means,
brother of Miss Susan Means of our borough, lives on
the farm owned by his father.

In 1846, thirty houses, dotted here and there for a dis-
tance of more than a mile, with two small churches (a
Methodist and a Presbyterian), made up the town.

I promised to give you some memories of the early
days of our now thriving town. Some of them are per-

36 Lights and Shadovjs of Sewickley Life.

sonal memories. Many of them came to me through
the words of long ago, nttered by the lips of those now
done with our commonplace language, but the influence
of whose beautiful lives yet lingers, with some of those
who still inhabit this, to them, fairest and dearest spot
on earth. Said one who came many years ago to find a
home here, " Sweet Valley ! never fairer scene bnrst upon
the vision of the traveller than that upon which our eyes
rested as, after a long journey, which our quiet horses
had made leisurely, we rested in view of the lovely spot
which was to be our future home."

The small village was composed of many nationali-
ties, from the lowliest toilers to the man of wealth ; an
industrious, happy people.

I remember seeing a letter, that had travelled some
hundreds of miles, directed to " Sweet Valley or Switley-
ville." It came all right with its queer directions, and
" Sweet Valley" has always seemed since then to tell
the story of the place, which, "beautiful for situation,"
has a charm for the long absent resident, causing him to
revisit again and again the scenes of his youth.

The only means of reaching the adjacent cities and
towns prior to 1851 (the year the railroad was fin-
ished), except when we were fortunate enough to catch
a throughgoing stage, was by an occasional steamboat
going up and down the Ohio River. A large house near
the boat-landing was our waiting place for the oft-times
long delayed boat (where the wave of a handkerchief
was the signal that the boat was expected to land), and
often there were hours of waiting, when the hostess
insisted upon giving food as well as shelter.

Lights and Shadows of SewicJdci/ Life. 37

The first boat built for the Western waters is said to
have been tlie "New Orleans," built at Pittsburg in
1811.

For many years keel-boats were used, and some of the
old inhabitants remember hearing tlie cheery songs of
the keel-boatmen as they labored at their tasks going
up and down the Ohio. The number of keel-boats em-
ployed on the upper Ohio is said to have been one hun-
dred and fifty. It required a month to make the trip
between Pittsburg and Louisville.

Steamboats were used in 1817. The first one that
came to this place from Cincinnati was the " Constitu-
tion," but it never reached Pittsburg, as it ran aground
on the bar at " Dead Man." Two years afterwards the
machinery was hauled away.

The first boat with a whistle passed Sewickley in 1837.
It was called the " Uncle Sam," and there are still some
of the early residents left who remember the excitement
in Sewickley and vicinity when its shrill tones were first
heard.

Mr. Cadwallader Evans, father of the late George
Evans, who lived in Mr. Dickson's house on Hill Street,
had worked for years, and at last received a patent for
the steam-whistle. It was arranged above the boiler, so
that the engineer could control it.

The boat ran aground in "White's Rififte," near the
old Tracy Landing, and the whistle was blown again
and again. Through the valley and over the hill-toj)
it echoed and re-echoed, causing a feeling of terror and
alarm. Mr. Jacob Fry announced to his family and
neighbors that the end of the world had come, and Ga-

38 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

briel was blowing his trumpet, telling them to fall on
their knees and improve the short time left in prayer.
A general belief was that it was the cry of a wildcat ; so
some of the men left their sugar-making and ran here
and there with pitchforks, while Moses Hendricks, ac-
companied by a friend, took his gun and w^ent as far as
" Crow's Kun" to shoot the animal. At last word was
brought from the neighbors near the river what was the
cause of the outcry, and quiet and peace were restored.

A writer in an old volume says, in speaking of our
beautiful river, in 1843, "The Alleohenv comes down
with a strong current from the north-east and, sweeping
suddenly round to the north-west, receives the more gentle
current of the Monongahela from the south, their com-
bined waters flowing on to the Mississippi under the
name of the Ohio or Beautiful River.

" The aborigines and the French considered the Alle-
gheny and Ohio to be the same stream, and the Monon-
gahela to be a tributary. 'Allegheny' being-a word in
the Delaware language, and ' 0-hee-o,' in the Seneca,
both meaning fair water. Hence the French term ' Belle
Riviere' was only a translation of the Indian name."

The first steamboat to tow coal from Pittsburg to
New Orleans was the " Crescent City," in 1854. It was
owned by George Leslie. Captain John Cochran was
the commander, and Captain McCormick, now of Leets-
dale, was the mate.

Mr. Cadwallader Evans's patent was for an escape-
valve connected W'ith the engine, so arranged that, as soon
as there was too much steam " aboard," the whistle gave
the alarm. The engineer, and not the pilot, as nowa-

Lights and Shadows of Scwicklcy Life. 39

days, had in those times the iiianageuiciit of the whistle.
What warm and histing friendships were formed during
those hours of waiting and traveh

One of tlie citizens tried for a time making daily-
trips from this place to Pittsbui"g witli an omnibus,
but it was not a successful enterprise.

The Indians called the water Seweekly that ran from
the maple trees, meaning sweet water, and for a time the
trees were called by the old residents " Seweekly trees.^^
Gradually the streams were called Seweekly, and we
now^ know tliem as Big Sewickley and Little Sewickley
Creeks.

The name " Sewickleyville" was decided on in the
autumn of 1840. Previously, "Contention," "Fife-
town," and " Bowling Green" were among the names
by which it w^as called.

When it had been decided, at a meeting held for the
purpose, to name the village SeivickleyviUe and drop all
the other names, the men and boys prepared for a regu-
lar jubilee. Procuring some tar barrels, they ran long-
poles through ojienings in the ends, and, setting fire to
the barrels, ran, holding the poles, up and down Beaver
Street, then called Beaver Road, shouting " Sewickley-
ville I SeivickleyviUe r and the name given with a fiery
baptism is very sweet to our ears.

When Zachary Taylor, our chief magistrate, and his
party travelled through this place in carriages in 1849,
the citizens had a much better opportunity of seeing him
than if he had made a flying trip through by rail. After
driving leisurely through the village, bowing pleasantly
to the people who had come out to see him pass, — being

40 Lights and Shadows of Sewiclcky Life.

loudly and heartily cheered by the Academy boys, — he
drove into the grounds at Edgeworth Seminary, where a
song of greeting was responded to by a speech.

The next stop was at Economy, where a piece of silk-
velvet brocade, sufficient for a dress for Mrs. Taylor (the
result of an industry that has since been abandoned in
the quaint old town), was presented by Miss Ra2)p.

The house in which I write to-day is built in what the
boys and girls in those days called " the woods ;" and,
while now the centre, Avas at that time on the outskirts
of the town. Two trees, within sight of my window,
still stand as venerable patriarchs, rearing their stately
heads and extendins; their arms as if in benediction.

What good times the boys and girls had then ! All
these so-called " woods" were common property. No one
thought of interfei'ing with them as they roamed here
and there in search of nuts or berries.

During one of these berrying excursions to "Ander-
son's Hill," the boys and girls, having gathered_a goodly
supply of the tempting fruit, were resting on a grassy
slope before starting for home. One of the little girls
had thrown her hat on the ground at a little distance, — a
hat of coarse braids of straw trimmed with a band of
green ribbon. A cow, quietly feeding at a short dis-
tance, had gradually approached until she had reached
the hat. A scream from little Mary, and the words
"Oh, my hat!" caused us all to look quickly around,
and there we saw the cow composedly chewing the straw
hat, unmindful of our shouting and running. After the
poor child had become reconciled to her loss and we were
on our way home, what we thought of most was how old

JJgJits and S/iadows of Seivickley Life. 41

Briiidle, as she lay down to blink and meditate and chew
the cud, was going to prepare the green ril)h<jn for di-
gestion.

One of the most enjoyable of these excursions was in
the neighborhood of a wonderful Indian cave, on a hill
back of the town, which some of the more venturesome
explored from time to time. A sort of rude ladder was
contrived, and descending this to the depth of perhaps
ten or twelve feet a long, narrow passage led to a })lace
something like a gateway, very narrow, called "the fat
man's misery." It was quite an effort for some of us to
get through it.

I remember Ave often saw the boys from the village
Academy, on their half-holidays, with long ropes and
candles in hand going to the cave, which they were sup-
posed to explore to a greater depth than others, which
fact made us think them very l)rave.

Our village was noted for two of the best schools
within many miles of Pittsburg, — an Academy for boys
and a Seminary for girls. Here w^re gathered repre-
sentatives of many families. North, South, East, and
West.

In 1838, Professor Wm. Neviu and John B. Champ
began the Sewickley Academy in " the brick house,''
at Quaker Valley. Kev. Joseph S. Travelli took charge
of it when it was removed to the village, he having
returned from his missionary work on account of the
ill-health of Mrs. Travelli. This was in 1842. The
Academy building, with its spacious grounds, stood near
the corner of Beaver and Fife Streets.

The Edgeworth Seminary was opened in 1836 by

42 " Lights and Shadows of SeivicJdey Life.

Mrs. Mary Oliver, an English lady, who j^reviously had
a school at Braddocksfield.

Mrs. Oliver was dearly loved by her pupils and
deeply mourned at her death. Her pupils erected to
her memory the first monument that was seen in
the Sewickley grave-yard, back of the Presbyterian
Church. It was removed to the new cemetery, and
there to-day we read these words, among others in-
scribed in loving memory, — " Her best epitaph is the
title ' Mother' in the hearts of all her pupils."

Tiie Seminary was conducted for many years after,
first, under the care of Rev. I). E. Nevin, and after-
wards Professor Williams, Dr. H. R. Wilson, and
Kev. Aaron Williams. It was destroyed by fire some
years ago, and not rebuilt.

Many of the leading business men of Pittsburg and
vicinity were educated in the old Academy, and homes
far and near are cheered and blest by the wives and
mothers who, along with a knowledge of mathematics,
English literature, music, painting, etc., learned many
beautiful lessons of love and good- will in the quiet Semi-
nary nestled among the maple trees.

The scholai's from the respective schools walked dec-
orously, two by two, marshalled by the sedate-looking
teachers. If perchance they crossed each other's ]jath-
way, many a stolen glance and word were exchanged,
and occasionally a little note found its way through the
fingers of some urchin, all unconscious of wrong-doing,
from one fond heart to another.

About midway between the old Academy in the vil-
lage and the Seminary at Edgeworth stood a famous old

REV. JOSEPH S. TRAVELLI.

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOB, LEN
TILDM'J F'
B

Li(/hix (Did /S'/irtr/o/r.s' of Sewicl'/ctj Life. 45

sycamore tree. Tlie course of the Little Sewickley
Creek has been clianged, but then it emptied into tlie
Ohio River, near the spot where tlie old tree stood, not
far from the present Quaker Valley Station. It was
seven feet in diameter, with a door on one side rounded
at the to|), and seven or eight feet from the ground a sort
of roof of boards, which also served as a floor for the
bovs who were venturesome enouo;h to use the second
story room. The tree was dug and burned out until the
benches which were arranged in the circular room below
would accommodate quite a little party.

Mrs. Wm. Miller, Mrs. Hugh Linn, and Mrs. Jacob
Ringley all remember their visits to the tree ; Mrs.
Linn saying a party of half a dozen persons often took
230ssession of it.

It was used by the Academy boys and Seminary girls
as a post-oftice, and many a precious missive found its
way into the hiding-place to await its owner.

A poor family who were in great straits at one time
took possession of this primitive home, much to the dis-
comforture of the young 2)eople.

I remember, when a child, being impressed w^ith a
feelino- of awe whenever the teacher of French in the
Academy, an old, reverend-looking gentleman, met us
in his solitary walks. Always, with a peculiar gesture,
he said, if as usual we were laughing and talking, " Be
wise !"

Strange to say, the names of the other teachers in the
Academy were as familiar to us as " household words,"
and we knew no other name for him than " Mr. Be
Wise."

46 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

What wonderful soirees tlie Seminary girls used to
give, and like a beautiful echo from the past come to
us the voices of some of those who sang. For a time
they gladdened earth's homes, and then joined the
throng of " winged choristers."

One of these, whose gift as a poet was known to but
few during her school-days, has, during the past few
years, as her heart responded in sympathy with the joys
and sorrows of friends and neighbors, sung of them in
touching strains.

Mrs. Jennie Davis Miller, whose 'pen name was
" Virginia Dare," was an honor to Sewickley. Her
beautiful Christian character was a rebuke to the selfish
and worldly, her love and friendship were to us a com-
fort and joy. Her death, which occurred in April,
1892, caused an aching void in many hearts.

Remembering that her first morning in heaven was
Easter morning, we read with esj^ecial interest the fol-
lowing poem :

EASTER.

"■ He is risen, as He said."

Shine, Easter sun, just risen, shine on,
Till all the shades of night are gone,
As "Sun of Righteousness" doth shine, —
Our risen Lord, — the Christ Divine.

Glad streams from icy thrall set free,
Haste to the rivers and the sea;
And as ye go the message speed :
"The Lord is risen — is risen indeed."

IJf/Jifs and Sha(Jovs of Scwickley Life. 47

Ob ! first fair fiowers now hlossoming,
Oh! happ3' birds that soar and sing,
Released from winter's grave and prison,
Assure sail souls, " The Lord is risen."

Ye little flowers, whose opening eyes
Are blue with blue of heav'nly skies,
Say. sweetest flowers, with perfumed breath,
" The Lord is risen — He conquers death."

The seed, though buried, does not die.
Nor in its grave forgotten lie.
Oh ! sorrowing souls, lift up your eyes:
"The Lord is risen"' — your dead shall rise.

YiRGiNiA Dare.

The exhibition at tlie close of each half-yearly term
at the Academy was an event to which the whole village
looked forward with eager interest, because the whole
vilhige was invited, and generally availed themselves of
the opportunity to attend ; the Principal, dear, good
man, having a word of welcome for all, rich and poor.

How plainly I seem to see some of those youthful
orators now. One of them has for years been connected
with railroads, and has well-nigh forgotten the time
when an immense farm-waoon was loaded with trunks,
en route for Pittsburg, the day after school closed, that
being the only baggage-car known in our quiet village.
While he now talks of stocks and dividends, I fancy I
recall the youthful features, and hear yet the echo of the
words in his impersonation of William Tell, as he drew
forth the concealed arrow, " To shoot thee, tyrant, had I
slain my son.""

Fire destroyed the old Academy building, on Beaver

48 Lights and Shadoics of SeicicJdey Life.

Street, in 1851, and the school was removed to the build-
ing now known as " Park Place Hotel ;" but, as we pass
the old grounds, we seem to see the boys at play, and
recall the youthful features of some of them.

About five o'clock in the morning the fire broke out,
and yet at that early hour almost the whole poj^ulation
was on the spot in a few minutes.

Some very ridiculous things occurred in the anxiety
of every one to save something. One old gentleman
seized an axe, and with vigorous blows brought down a
long pole on which some of the boys had placed a mar-
tin-box.

Henry Ward Beecher once said that the birds had fam-
ily worship at four o'clock in the morning; and in these
days, since our English cousins, the sparrows, have
populated the leafy part of the town, I often fancy they
are at that early hour having a sort of camp meeting ;
but, as I was going to say, the birds, parents and chil-
dren (worship being over), had likely gone out for their
morning constitutional, and thus escaped the sudden
awakening our friend had in store for them.

Since the Seminary became a thing of the j)a,st only,
and Mr. Travelli's Academy was closed, an Academy for
boys and girls was conducted for a number of years, first
in the old Presbyterian Church building, and afterwards
in the beautiful building erected by Mr. John Way, Jr.,
on Beaver Street, just at the end of the borough line.

Under Mr. Way's own care, with a number of able
teachers, this school was conducted for a number of
years very successfully ; and it is hoped that some day
it may reopen its doors to a band of young men and

Lighlx and Shadows of SeicicMey Life. 49

women seeking a higher education than the j^ublic school
affords without the necessity of leaving home.

While the friend of every right movement for the
good of the community, Mr. Way's grandest work has
been among the young men of the place. Scores of
them, receiving instruction in the Bible-class, supple-
mented by a lively interest in everything concerning
their home-life and week-day employments, have been
led to take a grander and more solemn view of life, its
duties and responsibilities.

The vilhige boasted very few stores as I first remem-
ber it, but I fancy I see each store-keeiDcr, and the
general arrangements of the stores. The principal one
was a dry-goods and grocery store combined, a regular
country store, kept by Mr. George H. Starr, an elder in
the Presbyterian Church, and one of the most honest,
upright, and godly of men. At that time an elder's
duties and responsibilities were considered hardly second
to those of the minister, and in the command to have
an oversight of the flock, the words were taken literally.
Faithfully and well did he perform his obligations.

Mr. Starr came from Michigan to Sewickley to be a
teacher of matliematics in the Academy ke^^t by Messrs.
Nevin and Champ, but after a time gave up his pro-
fession and opened the store. He married Miss Eachel
Hooker, a teacher in the Seminary, whose memory is
associated with all that is good and true.

Mr. Starr was born near Ballston Spa, N. Y., and Mrs.
Starr was born in Utica, N. Y. The influence of these
two devoted Christian workers is far reaching as eternity.
Truly "the memory of the just is blessed."

50 Lights and Shadows of SeuncTdey Life.

He was the village squire, too, but, owing to his great
love of " peace and good-will," the revenues from this
office were not very large. Usually he tried to act the
part of peacemaker to the parties, and thus prevent a
suit. He officiated at a number of marriages, the parties
sometimes coming many miles to procure his services.

A young couple, from out in the country somewhere,
came to him one evening, and the boys being apprised
of the fact that a wedding was on foot, the news spread,
until the store was crowded to witness the ceremony.
Before leaving, the groom, wishing to pay for the tying
of the knot, gathered from his pocket several small
coins, until he had in all thirty-seven cents, and asked
if that would do. Being assured by the good squire that
it would, the happy pair went on their way rejoicing.

Another store, kept by a nice old lady, supplied the
boys and girls from the schools with cakes, candy, and
nuts. Grandmother Garrison, as we all called her, when
not engaged with customers, was often found seated at
her spinning-wheel, her neat little figure swaying with
the motion of her foot on the treadle, as the wheel sang
its merry tune, and she deftly joined the long pieces of
wool for the yarn, which her busy fingers would knit
into stockings by and by.

What devices the boys resorted to in order to get an
extra trip in the neighborhood of this store. A sudden
misstep, by the help of a friendly weapon, dislodged the
heel of a shoe, which must needs be repaired. A spring-
over the fence in the neighborhood of a nail caused a
rent that must at once be taken to the tailor, in accord-
ance with the maxim, " a stitch in time saves nine."

Lights and Shadows of Sevncldey Life. ol

This tailor was a character that must not be over-
looked. He was of a very religious turn of mind,
and occasionally collected the villagers in the school-
house for religious services. Sometimes he was listened
to patiently throughout his rather lengthy talk, and
then again it happened that by the time his discourse
was ended his audience had one by one slipped out,
leaving him with a few sym})atlietic souls. With all his
peculiarities, there was not in the neighborhood a more
sincerely earnest man in his attempts to do good. AVhat
a quantity of water he always seemed to drink ! The effect
was very funny, when he occasionally held the tin cup,
from which he drank, to his lips, and finished a lengthy
sentence ; the words sounding as if they came from a
region far away. Sometimes his meditations interfered
with his work, which was usually very well done.

A very small man in the place employed him to make
a pair of pants ; behold, when finished, they were just
lono- enouo'll to be fastened around his neck ! Some of
US called him "Samuel, the prophet." He was a dreamer
of dreams, — to use his own words, " he had visions."
Providence left him a lonely widower, then his visions
came thick and fast.

Oh, how many fair women he saw in his dreams! and,
oh, dear ! to what a persecution was the hapless object
subjected for a time. One of these was a visitor at the
home of a family who lived in the house now occupied
by Mr. Robert Watson, and announcing to some of his
friends that his health required a drink from the spring
near the house every morning, he never failed, during
her stay, to make this pilgrimage.

52 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

This same spring of delicious, cool water still refreshes
the thirsty traveller, as in days of yore.

Whether he ever found a " pardner," tradition saith
not. Like one of his dreams, he vanished from our
midst and was lost in the far West.

Something rather embarrassing, and yet very funny to
the irreverent members of our little Presbyterian Church,
especially the boys and girls, happened as a result of
Samuel's zeal, which I must tell you before we leave him.
The services in our little church were held, in the sum-
mer evenings, before dark, when, in those primitive times,
some of the ladies came occasionally with a nice calico
dress and a nice sun-bonnet (ladies of means, too), and
occasionally a man sauntered in, minus his coat, looking
cool and comfortable in his shirt-sleeves. We usually
lingered for a chat under the large walnut tree which
stands in front of Mr. Reno's house, which was built on
the site of the old church. One evening, a young man,
who had been in the neighborhood for a short J;ime (and
left touni the next day), had by some means become
slightly intoxicated, and strolled into the church-yard.
Quite a number of persons were gathered under the
shade of the old forest tree, and among them our friend
Samuel, who with his usual zeal, which sometimes was
without knowledge, took him into the church. We were
a little flock, but we had an earnest young minister who
labored there for many years, and such voices to lead
the singing as one fancies the angels have.

While most of them have joined the glorious choir in
the " New Jerusalem," there are two of them still in our
midst. On this particular evening the words of the

Lights and Shadows of SewicMeij Life. 53

opening hymn rose clear and sweet, and were indelibly
stamped on tlie minds of some of the youthful worship-
pers (?). After the first few words had been sung, the
young man aforementioned arose to his feet and, clapping
his hands, said, in loud, ringing tones, " Bravo ! first-rate
si7iging ! I've travelled the country all over, and I never
heard better singing !"

In spite of the young minister's stern ""Be quiet, sir /"
he kept up his applause, until tlie few quiet words whis-
pered by one of our village doctors persuaded him to go
out.

How hard it was to sing properly during such a scene,
only those taking part knew.

CHAPTER II.

■ The faithful Pastor to his parish dear
Is like 3'on elm, that many a rolling year,
.Beneath its shade's hereditaiy reign.
Has heai'd the gambols of the rusiic train ;
Whose branches green, that over time prevail,
Have seen the children rise, the father fail :
If counsel sage or bounty he dispense.
He's to his flock another providence.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ■

Respect his toils, and let vour generous care
His modest house, devoid of pomp, prepare.
Within, by virtue's richest treasure graced;
Without, adorned, with neat and simplest tastes.
Partake with him the product of thy ground.
And. be his altar with thy offerings crowned.
In holv league for mutual good combined,
With his instructions be thy actions joined."

iOK a number of vears there was no church
building in the Valley, and when the minister
could be secured, service was held sometimes
in the old log school-house on Division Street
and sometimes in the little brick school-house on the
property of Mr. Shields.

Rev. Thomas McClelland having preached for a time
at the house of Mr. Fisher, and organized the first class
in the Valley, preaching sometimes in the house near the
old mill and afterwards in the Shields School-House,
still later organized the society known as "Hamilton's

Li(/hts and Shadow.^ of Sewkhley Life.

Class," afterwards the clmrcli at Blackburn. Among
the names enrolled there was Mrs. Rosannali Brockunier,
mother of Rev. Brockunier, who often preached in this
neighborhood.

I have in my possession an old class-book marked
" Class-Book for Ilamillou's Class : Abraham Laramore, C. L. ;
Ira Edd}-, P. E. Samuel Adams and Jacob Jenks, C. P.'s. Ob-
serve the Friday Fasts and live in love. Ma}^ 3, 1829."

No.

State op
Grace.

Members' Names.

Condition

OP LiPE.

Wm. Trinary.

Sarah do.

Samuel Gunsalles.

Eachel do.

do.

Thomas Hamilton.

Margaret do.

do.

Rebekah Linn.

Elizabeth Frazer.

Jacob Fry.

Wr.

Jane ]Merriman.

John Boren.

Elizabeth Boren.

do.

James Moor.

Lettice do.

do.

Elizabeth Stephens.

John Glancy.

Elizabeth Glancy.

do.

Rosanali Brockunier.

Archibald Boyd.

Geoi'ge do.

Jane McMichael (removed).

s. ■

Abraham Ladamore.

Wr.

Joseph Gunsalas.

Luke Gonsalas.

Sarah Brockunier.

James Fry.

Betsey do.
Martin Guglinger.

do.
M.

Craven Stephens.

56 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

Ill another class-book for Hamilton's Class, we find
Z. H. Coston, Presiding Elder, and James AVakefield,
Class Leader, with the following members :

'No.

State of
Grace.

Members' Names.

State
OF Life.

James Wakefield.

Susannah Wakefield.

Thomas Hamilton.

Margret Hamilton.

Elizabeth Hamilton.

Margret Hamilton.

Rebecca Linn.

Elizabeth Frazer.

Jacob Fiy.

AVr.

Jain Merriman.

John Boren.

Elizabeth Boren.

31.

Lettes More.

Craven Stephens.

Elizabeth Stephens.

Sarah Tanara. ■

John G-lancy.

Elizabeth Glancj*.

Eosannah Brockooner.

^ W.

Archibald Boyd.

Wr.

James Fry.

Elizabeth Fry.

Balis Fry.

Jain Fry.

3Iargret Tinarj-.

Feby Waggoner.

Mary Simereal.

James Grimes.

John Stuck.

James Brooks.

Mary Brooks.

Marj' Merriman.

Elizabeth Grimes.

Temperance Lustra.

William Frazer.

Ann Linn.

Lights and Shadoics of Sewickley Life.

No.

State op
Grace.

Members' Names.

State
OF Life.

B.
B.

Maiy Boyd.
Mary Stewart.
Wm. Richey.
Jane McDonald.

S.
S.

s.
s.

Among some old certificates of membership of the
Hamilton Church are these :

" The bearer, Henry Barnes, was admitted as a Probationer
in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Beaver Station on the 20th
of October. Since which time there has been no objection to him
in that relation, and no doubt but he would have been regularly
admitted at the end of six months, but his business required that
he should leave the place before the expiration of that term : we
therefore recommend him to the attention of our Brethi"en wher-
ever his lot may bo cast, this 22nd day of March, 1834.

Joshua Monroe."

" This will certify that the bearer, John Morrow, has been an
acceptable member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Alle-
ghenytown Station. u p. Limerick.

"June 9, 1834."

" The bearer, Nancj' Ann Merryman, is an acceptable member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberty Street charge,
Pittsburg Station. a Wesley Kenney, S. P.

"October 16, 1836."

The origin of the present Methodist Episcopal Sunday-
school was the one opened by Mr. John K. Garrison in
the old loo; church in 1837. His teachers were Isaac
M. Cook, Mary C. Way, Martha Mary Nevin, Lizzie S.
Olver, Betty Grimes, John B. Cliam^^, Keziah Waters,

58 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

Robert P. Nevin, and Samuel Morrow. When the frame
building was completed, in which Kev. John White
preached in 1839, the school was removed to that place.

In a Sunday-school minute-book kept from August,
1841, to August, 1850, we find many interesting items
which show the earnestness and devotion of Mr. Garrison
and his assistants. Every Sunday morning, in addition
to his Sunday-school work, Mr. Garrison went from
house to house, leaving at the door a religious tract, not
a house in the village being missed. During the first
years of the Sunday-school society, Mr. Garrison was
Superintendent; and, although Kenney GofiP, Kobert
Glancy, and others assisted in keeping the " minutes,"
not until 1844 is there a record of the regular officers,
which were Rev. D. Sharp, President; John P. Gar-
rison, Superintendent ; Pliilo Goff, Secretary ; Kenney
Goff, Librarian; W. Scofield, Treasurer; J. McWil-
liams, W. Scofield, J. McClelland, B. Gray, Managers.

We cull from the old minute-book the following items :

"August 1, 1841.
"School opened with singing and prayer by Superintendent,
and closed with singing and prayer by Brother B. Gray.
" 7 teachers, 45 scholars.
"Cloudy, with signs of rain."

" January 30, 1842.
" School assembled to-day, but key of the library not being
here, the school was dismissed."

" February 13, 1842.
" Cloudy, soft day, with the appearance of rain. Yery good
behavior in school to-day.

JOHN R. GARRISON.

BRUCE TRACY.

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOB. LENOX AND

TILDBN rOUNDAHONS

B L

Licjhts and Shadows of Sewicldey Life. 61

"We gencmll}' aim not to let our school lust more than one
and a lialf hours.

" 7 teachers, 34 scholars."

"June 19, 1842.

" A very rainy day. Small school. Few teachers ; but pretty
well supplied in this respect with visitors. Children addressed
by Brother Starr, of the Presbytei'ian Church.

"3 teachers, 30 scholars."

"July 31, 1842.
"Had abundance of raiu the preceding night; makes it quite
cool and comfortable to-day. Quite a scarcity of female teachers.
"4 male teachers, 1 female teacher, 45 scholars."

"August 21. 1842.
"A very pleasant day, but many discouragements; perhaps
there is a better day coming; may it be so.
"4 teachers, 41 scholars."

" August 28, 1842.
" B. Gray, one of our teachers, has resigned. A very pleasant
da}^. Tolerable good school.
" 3 teachers, 42 scholars."

" September 4, 1842.
"It is now raining.
" 3 teachers, 42 scholars."

" October 16, 1842.
" The Superintendent absent at a quarterly meeting on New
Brighton Circuit. A cool, cloudy day, and no fire in the stove on
account of not having a stove-j)ipe."

" December 25, 1842.

" Our quarterly meeting has been protracted over the three
preceding Sundays, in which time there has been a great revival
of religion, and some of our scholars have shared in it. A large
school to-day and well behaved.

"4 teachers, 37 scholars."

62 Lights and Shadoios of SeioicMey Life.

" January 8, 1843.

"This is the first Sabbath-school since its reoro-anization.

"At a meeting of the Sabbath-school Society, held January 3,
1843, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

"Superintendent, Bro. K. Goff; Secretary, J. P. Kramer;
Treasurer, Philo Goff; Librarian, A. Wakefield.

" Managers : Jno. Way, Samuel Peebles, Geo. Eudisill, John E.
Garrison, James Mc Williams.

" The school is very small to-daj^, occasioned by the inclement
weather.

" 6 teachers, 23 scholars."

"January 22, 1843.

" The weather is fine, and the school tolerably large, but most
of our teachers are absent at a protracted meeting at Franklin
Meeting House ; the librarian is also absent ; however, he is ex-
cusable, as he has gone to get married. Sec.

" 3 teachers, 47 scholars."

" March 19, 1843.
" Yery cold weather. Bro. Baldwin Gray, one of our former
teachers, visited the school and took charge of a class.
"4 teachers, 35 scholars." —

"March 26, 1843.
" The weather is pleasant and school large. We notice, with
pleasure, that Bro. Jno. Way (one of the managers) is present.
" 6 teachers, 36 scholars."

"April 10, 1843.
"This is remarkable weather for 10th of April; whilst I am
penning this it is snowing, and looks very much like winter. As
this is the last day that I expect to meet with the Sabbath school,
I do pray the Lord will prosper it as a school, and that sui^erin-
tendent, officers, teachers, and scholars may be so happy as to
meet around our Father's kingdom in heaven, where we will
25raise Him forever, etc., etc.. Adieu,

"J. P. Kramer."

-> ' \

ii^-

■if,

*»•;> ••» HP

?T^

WILLIAM RENO.

ROBERT GLANCY.

PHILO GOFF.

J. P. KRAMER.

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBKAHY

A^r^Jt, LENOX A\r>

Lights and Shadoics of Sewichley Life. 65

".May 19, 1844.
"A very pleasant morning-; qiiik' a large school; no regular
male teachers present. I hope the morning air is not cooling the
zeal of our eight-o'clock men ; the females turn out to a man.
The ^vomen for perseverance an}' time before men."

On the last page of the miimte-book we find :

" August 25, 1S50.
" A pleasant day ; an increase of children and teachers ; all went
on harmoniously."

In 1839 the first Methodist Church was built at the
corner of Broad and Thorn Streets, the site now occu-
pied by the beautiful new edifice, built largely through
the munificence of Kev. Charles Thorn. It was built
through the efforts of Kev. Charles Thorn, Rev. James
Gray, Mr. John Garrison, who for many years was the
Sunday-scliool superintendent, and other zealous Meth-
odists.

Mr. Bruce Tracy, now living at a. ripe old age in the
house he then occupied, assisted by Mr. Garrison, built
the church, — a very neat, comfortable building, — which
was removed to Beaver Street a few years ago, and is
now occupied by Mrs. Campney (who, with her good
parents, often worshipped within its walls) as dwelling
and store-room. Within that little church some of the
most earnest words that ever fell from the lips of a
servant of God were the means of leading multitudes to
" the better land."

Rev. John White (father of Judge White) was the
first pastor. He was born near Newtown, Frederick
County, Va., April 12, 1787, and died in Washington,

66 Lights and Shadows of Sewieldey Life.

Pa., February 23, 1863. His parents were Thomas and
Sarali White.

He was about nineteen years okl when he commenced
preaching iu the circuit or district including Winchester
and Newtown, then in the Baltimore Conference. He
preached in the Sewickley Circuit and lived in Sewickley
in 1839-40.

About the year 1857 he purchased the property now
owned and • occupied by Dr. M. S. Burns, and lived
there several years.

I remember hearing him speak at a love-feast, not
long before his death, of those early times and some of
his after experiences, with such a ring of triumph in his
voice that we felt, as we looked at the man who had for
so many years " walked with God" and led others to
see the beauty of " the narrow way," that he was, like
Simeon, just ready to say, "Lord, now lettest thou thy
servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy
salvation." ~"

Bev. Joseph Wright, grandfather of Mrs. Dr.
McCready of this place, although not resident here,
preached alternately with Bev. John White.

His grandfather, Joshua Wright, was one of the early
English settlers at Jamestown. He afterwards removed
to Washington County, Pa., and cleared a great tract of
land. Mrs. Wright, whose maiden name was Harris,
belonged to the family from which our State capital
received its name.

Joseph Wright, although brought up a Baptist, after
his conversion in a Methodist church, began to study
for the ministry with a view to joining the Methodist

REV. JOHN WHITE.

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBIIARY

ASTOB, LENOX AND

TILDBr^ FOUNDAllONS
R L

Lights and Shadows of Seioickley Life. 69

Conference. Very few men in his day received so fine
an edncation, and after continued ill-healtli compelled
him to resign his public work as a minister of the Gos-
pel, he devoted much of his time to study.

Mrs. McCready, whose home, after the death of her
father, was with her grandfather, — some of whose hap-
piest memories are connected with her life there and the
drives to and from school in his company, — tells of the
long hours spent in the translation of Latin, Greek, and
Hebrew works after the evening worship, in which his
clear, sweet voice led the singing, was over and the
family had retired, leaving him the quiet hours, often
ending with midnight. He was always ready and willing
to fill vacant pulpits in the vicinity. The church at
''Peter's Creek" was called "Wright's Chapel," for him.

Rev. Charles Thorn, who was largely instrumental in
buildins: that first church, is remembered as one who
labored zealously for the spread of Methodism and the
good of the church at large, helping and encouraging the
feeble churches scattered here and there over the country.
Thorn Chapel at Glenfield was named for him. Many
times he preached from the pulpits of the old churches,
and among his last thoughts and wishes and prayers the
prosperity of the church here had a large place.

The ground occupied by the Methodist Episcopal
chapel, church, and parsonage, and $15,000, were do-
nated by him on condition that the congregation con-
tributed 115,000, so that a new church could be built.
The beautiful new church is the result of this bequest.

Mr. Garrison was the Sunday-school Superintendent
and Mr. Robert Glancey was Librarian and Secretary.

70 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

How many of the " boys and girls grown tall," look
back with gratitude to the teachings of Mr. Garrison and
the band of earnest workers who labored there. Mr.
Gray, Mr. Garrison, and Mr. Keno were among the
early class-leaders, men whose houses were always open
to the ministerial brethren. Mr. Gray for a time led
two classes every Sunday, — one in the little church, the
other in the school-house at Shields's.

The church, as was customary at that time, was lighted
by candles, the candle-sticks fastened on the walls and
posts at the ends of pews. The evening service was an-
nounced to commence at " early candle-light," and just
as it began to grow dusk, the people went flocking into
the church, not so anxious to be sure the candles were
really lighted, as many people in all our churches, now-
adays, are, to be sure the bell is done ringing before they
enter the church, lest they might be a little too early.
Here and there over the church some one would start up
a familiar hymn, in which all heartily joined. This was
continued until the time for the regular service to begin,
making the time a regular ''i^raise-meeting. " The singing-
was a feature of the j)rayer-meetings and protracted meet-
ings, during the winter, that was a power for good. There
was no choir or organ in those days, but all the people
sang, with a hearty good-will.

The leading members took charge of the lights, to see
that they were kept " trimmed and burning." Sometimes
they became so absorbed in the sermon that the minister
would pause and say, " Will Brother Gray please snuff
the candles?" or "Brother Garrison, we would like to
have a little more light.''^

REV. CHARLES THORN.

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOIl, LBNGX AND

Lights and Shadows of SewlcJdey Life. 73

Mrs. Nancy Way, one of the early Methodists, has a
more lasting memorial in the hearts of a grateful people
than even the beautiful memorial window in the new
church. The sick, the suffering, and the poor were all
her friends to be ministered unto. Tlie ministers and
their families were all her chikli-en, to be thought of and
cared for. When the wife of Rev. Sawhill was stricken
Avith small-pox, the whole neighborhood was in terror.
Mrs. Way never took a second thought as to hei- duty in
the matter, but with the heroism born of the faith that
can remove mountains of danger and difficulty, and the
" perfect love that casteth out fear," tliis widowed mother of
a large family, took her post in the sick-room, soothing,
comforting, and ministering to the wants of the sufferer.
Her quiet, unruffled demeanor, and the sweet, expressive
countenance that told of heaven's peace within, inspired
patience and trust in the hearts of the afflicted family.
When the death angel came, she closed the eyes and folded
the hands for the long sleep.

Judge White, who came to Sewickley in 1852, was for
more than thirty years the Superintendent of the Sunday-
school. His work in this position and in all that con-
cerns the good of the church is felt and acknowledged.
His active interest in every new enterprise for the public
good is well known. That which comes to me now as a
work that will be a lasting monument to his memory, had
he done nothing else, is the town-clock, which his enei'gy
and liberality placed in the tower of the new Methodist
Church. As the spire points us heavenward to the land
beyond the clouds, how fitting that our eyes returning to
earth should see the hands pointing out the hour, remind-

74 Lights and Shadows of Seivickley Life.

ing us tliat the days of probation in which to j^rej^are for
that laud beyond time and space are hastening on. As
the weary watcher in the sick-room waits and hopes for
the morning, each hour that is counted by the clock seems
to say, " be patient ; the morning which endeth the pains
and trials of earth, the morning of joy, is at hand."

E-ev. E-obert F. Hopkins, whose parents came from
England near the close of the seventeenth century, was
born in Bourbon County, Ky., April 16, 1798, and died
in Sewickley, March 3, 1891. He came to Sewickley in
1849, and built the house lately occupied by Mr. Robert
Watson. He owned the great tract of land back of the
house, much of which was j^urchased for the cemetery,
as well as a large portion of the village, which was laid
out in lots by him, and sold for what seems to-day a fabu-
lously low price.

The greater part of his life was spent in connection
with the Pittsburg Conference, and he was Presiding
Elder for nineteen years. He laid the corner-stone of
the new Methodist Church of Sewickley, and was spared
for several years to worship within its walls.

We quote from the memorial article in the Conference
minutes : — . -

" The ministry of Brother Hopkins was pre-eminently
itinerant. Much of it belonged to that period of our
history characterized by very short pastorates and fre-
quent removals. Some of his fields of labor embraced
vast stretches of territory requiring hundreds of miles
of travel, mostly on horseback, the climbing of moun-
tains, threading of forests, swimming of swollen streams,
and lodging in rude cabins. That was the * heroic age'

REV. ROBERT HOPKINS.

THE NEW YMKK

PU&LIC LIBHAF.Y

ASTOB, LI. . a;-D
B L

Lights and Shadoics of Sewichley Life. 77

of Methodism west of the Allegheny Mountains ; and of
the heroes, none were more heroic than Robert Hopkins.
He well earned the large place he holds in the respect
and affections of his brethren in the ministry and of the
people whom he served."

He was married, November 14, 1833, to Miss Pamelia
Scott, of Brooke County, Va. There were born to them
five children, — two sons and three daughters. Three of
these have passed to the spirit world, leaving one son,
Prof. Hamline Hopkins, of Ypsilante, Mich., and Mrs.
Mary Lipp, of Sewickley. Nature was generous in giving
our brother an exceptionally fine physique. He was fully
six feet in height, squarely built, and as straight as a
rule. He was of commanding presence and noble bear-
ing, had a keen eye, was always courtly in his manners,
but exceedingly affable. He was the very soul of honor,
des2)ising all that savored of littleness or meanness.

He was one of the comparatively few men who suc-
ceed in keeping the heart young. The children in the
Sunday-school always smiled when they saw him coming
into the room, for he was sure to go around among the
classes and speak some kind words to them. He rarely
passed a child on the street without exchanging a few
pleasant words. As a j^reacher, Kobert Hopkins was a
workman that needed not to be ashamed. Whether
dealing with philosophical or practical truth, he seemed
equally at home. His style was lucid, logical, and manly.
He held his subject well in hand, always making out
what he undertook. He laid no claim to what is called
the " witchery of oratory," but his discourse bristled with
points well taken and admirably put, and often spiced

78 Lights and Shadotvs of SewicUey Life.

with sparkling wit and humor, so that he easily held
the attention of young and old. His last sermon was
preached in Sewickley Church about a year before his
death. He sat in a chair while delivering his discourse,
which was full of interest and profit, and will long be
remembered by those who heard it.

A few months before his death lie was brouo-ht to the
church, and from his chair made a short talk to the
Sunday-school. He remained for the jDublic service, at
the close of which he pronounced the benediction. It
was a day of joy to the old veteran, and his last spent
in the house of God on earth.

The following have been the preachers of Sewickley
Methodist Episcopal Church :

1839. John White and Joseph Wright.

1840. Joshua Monroe and J. White.

1841. P. McGowan and H. McCall.

1842. H. MeCall.

1843. D. Sharp and J. Houston.

1844. D. Sharp and W. P. Blackburn.

1845. W. Long and J. W. Baker.
1846-47. J. L. Williams.

1848. B. F. Sawhill.

1849. J. K. Miller.

1850. T. Cronage and B. F. Sawhill.

1851. R. Hopkins and Joseph Horner.

1852. A. G-. Williams and W. P. Blackburn.

1853. T. P. Sadler and J. Pollock.

1854. H. D. Fisher and A. E. Ward.

1855. L. R. Beacom and S. Burt.

1856. L. Pv. Beacom and F. D. Fast.

1857. J. C. Brown and George Crooks.

1858. D. A. McCready.

1859. D. A. McCready (Sewickley a station).

I
O
tr

THE NEW YORK

PUB-LIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND

TILDBN Fnr-NnArinM«

B i'

Lights and /Shadows of SewlcJdey Life. 81

lSGO-61. II. W. Baker.
lS(;2-6;',. S. G. Kennedy.
18G4-GG. ^y. H. Locke.
18G7-G8. Joseph Horner.
18G9-71. C. A. Holmes.
1872-74. J. R. Mills.
1875-76. A. L. Petty.
1877-78. W. B. Watkins.
1879-81. Wi Ilium Lynch.
1882-84. M. J. Sleppy.
1885-8G. W. J. Miles.
1887-88. L. H. Woodring.
1889-90. J. S. Bnickin.
1891-92. H. L. Chapman.

LEAVING THE OLD CHURCH.

The last services in the old brick church, which was
to be taken down to make room for the present edifice,
were held September 18, 1881.

The bell ranoj at the usual time for Sunday-school.
The hymns, " In the morn of life," and " Jesus is calling
for thee," were sung, and prayer offered by the Pastor,
Rev. Wm. Lynch. After some time spent with the
regular lesson, the Assistant Superintendent, Mr. John
Johnston, read a letter from the absent Superintendent,
Judge White, written in London, telling of the notable
things he had seen ; this was followed by a talk from
Father Hopkins, telling something of his early life.
After singing " Welcome to glory," the school was dis-
missed, to meet the next Sunday in Choral Hall.

At the eleven o'clock morning service, the Pastor

preached a missionary sermon from Luke xii. 48. At

the beginning of the service six children were baptized, —

82 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

Harry S. Lake, Ora R. Lake, Sarah Lake, George A.
Hoe, Olive B. Little, and James V. Brush.

The choir was composed of Mr. John Bosensteel,
Leader ; Miss Bell Hoe, Organist ; F. R. Peters, J. B.
Ague, James McDonald, W. W. Rosensteel, William
Young, Hattie Gaston, Ida McDonough, Kittie Erwin,
and Lizzie Stuck.

At the evening service, the anthem, " Praise the Lord,"
and the hymn, " Waiting, only waiting," were sung. The
sermon was from Eph. i. 13, 14; hymn 445, the Doxol-
ogy and benediction, followed by the anthem, " How
beautiful upon the mountains," closed the solemn and
interestino; services.

The chapel of the new church was dedicated Novem-
ber 20, 1881. The morning sermon was by Rev. Mr.
Locke ; text, " What mean ye by these stones ?" Rev.
Robert Hopkins and the Pastor read alternately the
One Hundred and Twenty-second Psalm. Mr. Hopkins
dedicated the church. Anthems, " Oh, how Beautiful,"
" How Lovely is Zion," '' Deal Gently, O My Father."

In the afternoon, the sermon, from Forty-eighth
Psalm, twelfth and thirteenth verses, was by Rev. W.
B. Watkins. Prayers were offered by Rev. W. L.
Wallace, of the U. P. Church, and Dr. James Allison.
The anthem, "The Lord Reigneth," was sung.

In the evening the sermon was by Mr. Locke, from
Luke xviii. 2. Appropriate hymns were sung and pray-
ers offered.

Laying of corner-stone of new M. E. Church. Ser-
vices were commenced in the chapel at two p.m., July
25, 1882. After the anthem, " How Beautiful are Thy

M. E. CHURCH.

BUILT 1884.

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Dwellings," had been snng and Scripture reading by the
Pastor, liev. Wni. L3^nch, there was 2:»rayer by Rev.
McGuire and the singing of appi-opriate hymns, followed
by the reading of a history of Methodism in Sewickley
by Judge White. Addresses were delivered by Revs.
Wakefield, McCready, and Holmes, former pastors.

A large glass jar, which was to be put under the cor-
ner-stone, was packed in tlie study by Judge White,
Ralph Johnston, John Patton, and Robert Glancy. It
was sealed by John Patton, who, after the services in the
chapel, carried it to the corner, where services were held.
After prayer, singing, and reading of church DiscipHne
and appropriate selections from the Scriptures, '' Father
Hopkins" read a list of the contents of the jar, which
he then deposited with the help of William Dickson,
the contractor. The stone bears the inscription, " Laid
July 25, 1882." The jar contained a Bible, hymn-book,
copy of the Christian Advocate, copy of each of the
daily papers, a history of Methodism in Sewickley, the
names of all the members of the Church, the names of
teachers and scholars of the Sunday-school.

Then followed reading from Discipline, "In the name
of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," by Father Hopkins.
Singing, by congregation, hymn 316. Prayer l)y Dr.
Holmes. Gloria Patria, led by Judge White, and Ben-
ediction by Father Hopkins. Ministers present Avere,
Revs. Hopkins, Lynch, Boyle, Wakefield, McCready,
Holmes, Horner, McGuire, Hull, Ellis, and Peters of
the Methodist Church, and Dr. Bittinger of the Pres-
byterian, Dr. Camp of the Episcopal, and Rev. Cole,
African M. E. Church, Sewickley. A social meeting

86 Lights and Shadows of Sewkkley Life.

was held in the evening in the chapel, at which Father
Hopkins and Judge White related some incidents of the
early days of Methodism in Sewickley.

Of the young men of the M. E. Church, Sewickley,
who became ministers, is Kev. Frank K. Peters, whose
mother resides on Fife Street. He was born in Moon
Township, Allegheny County. When five years old he
came to Sewickley. He was educated in the Sewickley
public school, McKeesport Academy, and Mount Union
College. He taught school for a time, commencing when
but sixteen years old. In 1883 he was married to Miss
Lizzie Anderson, of Sewickley. He is now pastor of
the M. E. Church at Mahoningtown, Pa.

Rev. A. C. Ellis was born in Detroit, Michigan, in
1851, and in infancy was removed to Sewickley. He
was educated in the Sewickley public schools, Alle-
gheny College, and Drew Theological Seminary. He
was married, in 1885, to Miss Delia McMunn, of Ohio.
He is now pastor of the Smithfield Street M. E. Church
of Pittsburg, Pa.

Pev. John F. Murray, brother of Dr. P. J. Murray,
was born at Blackburn, near Sewickley, in 1854. He
was a pupil of the public school at Blackburn, after-
wards attending Sewickley Academy and Allegheny
College previous to entering the senior class of Ohio
Wesleyan University, from which he graduated in 1877.
He was licensed to preach at Blackburn Quarterly Con-
ference, held at Mount Sewickley camp grounds. In
1878 he was married to Miss Luanna Brush, of Ohio.
In 1883 he entered the Boston school of theology. He
is now pastor of the M. E. Church at Wilkinsburgh.

HON. J. W. F. WHITE.

JOHN N. WHITE, E£Q.

THE NEW YORK

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Lights and Shadoios of Sewlckley Life. 89

Kev. ►^auuiel M. Mackey was born in Londonderry,
Ireland, and came to Sewickley in his early boyhood.
He was edncated in the Sewickley public schools and
Allegheny College. He is now j^^istor of Simpson M. E.
Chapel, Liberty Street, Allegheny City, Pa.

Kev. George S. Holmes, son of Rev. C. A. Holmes,
D.D., of the Arch Street M. E. Church, Allegheny,
who was for a time a resident here, was born in Steuben-
ville, Ohio, February 9, 1854. He commenced his
school-life in the Third Ward Pittsburg public school,
and was a pupil of the Iowa Wesleyan University dur-
ing the time his fother was president of that institution.
He received the degree of A. M. from the Western Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania in 1882. He studied law in
Harrisburg, while in the office of Hon. M. S. Quay.
While pui'suing his law studies, he had such a longing
to preach the Gospel, that he commenced the study of
theology with his father, and, when just ready to be
admitted to the bar, was received into the Pittsburg
Conference of the M. E. Church in 1881. He is now
pastor of the M. E. Church at Scottdale, Pa.

Rev. James M. Thoburn, Jr., was born at St. Clairs-
ville, Ohio, June 23, 185(3. He was educated at Alle-
gheny College, Meadville, Pa. Part of his boyhood
was spent in Sewickley, where he is kindly and affec-
tionately remembered. He was a missionary to India
four years, pastor of the English Church at Calcutta,
except the last eight months of his stay, when he ^vas
]3astor of Union Chapel, at Simla, the headquarters
of the English government in the Himalaya Mountains.
He is now pastor of the M. E. Church at Oil City, Pa.

90 Lights and Shadows of Seioickley Life.

June 14, 1882, he was married at Cony, Pa., to Miss
Emma F. Merchant.

Rev. William Bruce Kiugley was born in Sewick-
ley, June, 1857, and died at the age of twenty-eight
years, having spent all his life in the Valley and among
the people he loved. He received his early education at
the public school, and was a member of the first class to
graduate from that institution in 1876. After attending
Mr. Way's Academy for some time, he spent two years
teaching in the little school by the water-works, during
which time he made a lasting impression on the minds
and hearts of his joupils. His next step was to enter
the Polytechnic Institute in Allegheny as a pupil, and
his death occurred shortly before the time he expected
to graduate. He was a great student, and had he lived
would have made his mark in the world. Two years
before his death he was licensed to preach the Gospel,
and many times preached in Allegheny, Bellevue, Glen-
field, Bridgewater, and his own dear Sewickley. Those
who had been associated with him in church and Sunday-
school in all his relations of assistant superintendent,
treasurer, teacher, and class-leader rejoiced when, from
the pulpit of their own church, his gentle voice was
heard telling the " wondrous story" of redeeming love,
and pleading with sinners to accept as their friend the
Saviour that was his constant companion.

Mr. Bingley often expressed the feeling that to him
life's journey would be very short, and in consequence
of this ever-present feeling was all the more zealous and
eager to work. He was a dear lover of Nature, and we
feel that he realizes now fully the meaning of these words :

JOHN JOHNSTON.

B. C. CHRISTY, ESQ.

THE NEW YORK

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Lights and Shadows of Sewichley Life. 93

" There everlasting spring abides,
And never withering liowers."

A beautiful and toucliiug tribute of love and respect
to the memory of their friend was the service of prayer
and song held by the side of his grave every Sunday
evenina: durino- the summer after his death. At the
young people's prayer-meeting held just before service
on Sunday evenings, the following hymn, composed by
their friend " Willie," w^as often sung to a familiar tune :

I'm but a traveller through this desert of tears,

I'm but a traveller through this desert of tears ;

I'll journey along for a few more years,

And then I'll see the promised land.

Glory to Jesus. His name I'll ]*i*aise

While time is for me, and thro' endless days

I'll praise Him in the glory land.

I once lived in Egypt in bondage to sin,
I once lived in Egypt in bondage to sin.
Then Jesus in His merc}^ found out me,
And, glory to His name, I'm free.

I'm walking with Jesus hand in hand,

I'm walking with Jesus hand in hand.

On the high brow of Nebo soon with Him I'll stand,

And He'll show me all fair Canaan's land.

There, there are mansions bright, fair to see,
There, there are mansions bright, fair to see.
And Jesus my Saviour has builded them for me,
In the city of the great, great King.

Death's dark river, oli, Avhy should I fear?
Death's dark river, oh, why should I fear.
While Jesus at the helm my bark will steer
And moor me on the golden shore ?

W. B. EiNGLEY.

94 Lights and Shadoios of Sewickley Life.

Kev. Charles Edward Locke was born in Pittsburg,
September 9, 1858. During his father's pastorate in
Sewickley he left an impress on the minds of his play-
fellows, some of whom remember his preaching to them
after spending a little time in his father's study as he
rehearsed his sermons. He graduated in the class of
1880 from Allegheny College, Meadville. In December,
1882, he married Miss Mina J. Wood, daughter of Ca|3-
tain John A. Wood, of Pittsburg. Mr. Locke is now
pastor of the Taylor Avenue M. E. Church at Portland,
Oregon.

Kev. H. L. Chapman, D.D., the present pastor, was
born March 24, 1832, at Stoystown, Somerset County,
Pa. He was converted during a protracted meeting held
in Blairsville, Pa., at the age of fourteen, at which time
he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
was led, through the influence of Rev. John Coil, the
Presiding Elder of the Pittsburg Conference, to begin
his public work as a minister of the Gospel at the early
age of nineteen years. In July, 1853, he was married
to Miss Agnes C. Stahl, of Ligonier, Pa.

Dr. Chaj)man has had some of the best charges in the
Conference, having spent the five years previous to his
coming to Sewickley at Johnstown, sharing with his
people all the horrors of the dreadful flood, giving his
prayers and sympathy to the afflicted, and seeking by
word and influence to encourage and lift up the discour-
aged and cast down. The degree of A.M. was received
from Allegheny College in 1861, and that of D.D. from
Mount Union College, Ohio, in 1880.

When the call came for the nine-months' men in 1862,

REV. H. L. CHAPMAN, D.D.

THE NEW YORK

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and so many responded to the call, going forth to all
the nntried realities of the dreadful war, subject to many
trials and temptations, Dr. Chapman went out as Chap-
lain for the 123d Regiment.

For four years he filled the position of Presiding
Elder of the Allegheny District. In addition to his
pulpit and pastoral duties, Dr. Chapman takes a great
interest in the young people's meetings, usually filling
the position of President of the EpAvorth League. He
came to Sewickley in the autumn of 1891.

The singing in the Methodist Episcopal Church has
been led for eighteen years by Mr. John A. Kosensteel,
sometimes as precentor, and at other times leader of a
choir. Mr. Rosensteel is well known in Sewickley, and
many other cities and towns, as a musician. He married
Miss Mary Glancy, daugliter of Mr. Pobert Glancy, of
Sewickley. They reside on Thorn Street.

The Sunday-school connected with the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, which was started by John P. Garrison in
1837, is now the largest Sunday-school in Sewickley,
having an enrolment of three hundred and seventy-
five scholars. The Superintendents have been John P.
Garrison, Kinney Goft', Judge White, D. N. White,
John Johnston, B. C. Christy, and John N. White.
Mr. White, the present Su^^erintendent, has filled the
position for ten years. He was born at the old home-
stead at the corner of Chestnut and Broad Streets, and
has grown up in the Sunday-school, successively filling
the positions of jnipil, teacher, and superintendent, as
well as positions of trust connected with the church.
He was married in 1886 to Miss Julia French, of Fort

98 Lights and Shadows of SewicMey Life.

Wayne, Indiana. Mr. White is a well-known lawyer in
Pittsburg ; his residence is on Broad Street, near Thorn.

The infant class, which has been under the superin-
tendence of Mrs. R. M. Irwin (formerly Mrs. T. C.
Little) for the past twenty-three years, assisted by Mrs.
Daniel De Linn (formerly Miss Jennie Johnston) for
ten years, and, -owing to an increase of pupils, also by
Miss Ella Ward for the past two years, owes its origin
to Mrs. Judge White. When Mrs. White went to the
Sunday-school the first Sunday spent in Sewickley, she
proposed to gather n]} the little ones and form an infant
class. The old frame church was then used as a Sun-
day-school room, but had not yet been divided into
rooms, so, when told there was no room for an infant
class, Mrs. White said, " I will find a place." My in-
formant, who was then a pupil in one of the larger
classes, says she fancies she can see the little flock, led
by Mrs. White, going around to Broad Street, to the
tailor shop owned by Mr. Samuel Morrow, which oc-
cupied the site of the present parsonage. There the
good work began which has grown to the present large
infant class. Besides a large number of classes in the
main room, there are two Bible classes, taught by Judge
White and Mr. J. P. Baily, the well-known architect.

The first Presbyterian minister known to have preached
in the Valley was Bev. John McClain, who was pastor
of Montour's church across the river. He preached in
barns, private houses, or in the woods from 1802 to 1808.

The first mention of a regularly organized church at
Sewickley is in the church records of 1808. Mr.
Andrew McDonald was pastor part of his time until

JOHN A. ROSENSTEEL.

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Lights and Skadoivs of Seioicldet/ Life. 101

1818. During the interval between 1818 and 1822,
when the church was again organized, Rev. Francis
Herron, D.D., and Rev. Elisha P. Swift, D.D., preached
here a number of times.

The first church was a log-house built in 1818. Ser-
vices had been held for a time in the woods, sometimes
in a sort of shed in the " Oak Grove" of Mrs. Beers,
and at last a lease of the grove was secured for forty
years and the log church built. It was on the property
owned by the late Robert Watson. The first sermon
preached in that building was by Rev. Michael Law,
pastor of Montour's church.

The members of the church organized in 1822 were
James McLaughlin and Thomas Backhouse, Elders ;
private members, Nancy McLaughlin, William Mc-
Laughlin, Mary McLaughlin, Sarah Backhouse, Mrs.
Mann, Thomas Waggoner and wife, Jane Lester, and
Jane Vance. Rev. Mr. Andrews, who was engaged to
preach for one-third of his time, was promised f 35.50.
From 1831, when Mr. Andrews's labors ceased here, the
people were indebted to Rev. S. C. Jennings and others
for occasional j^reaching.

The next reorganization was in 1838. The names of
members were Alexander Ingram, James S. McComb,
John B. Champ, James McLaughlin, George Flower,
Thomas Waggoner, Mary Ingram, Ellen Ingram, Mar-
garet Nevin, Ann McComb, Eleanor Orr, Margaret Mc-
Comb, Mary Olver, Jane M. Flower, Mary Smith, Eliza
Campbell, Mary P. Johnston, Nancy McLaughlin, Je-
mima Anderson, Isabella Waggoner.

Dr. S. C. Jennings, who was a23pointed by Presby-

102 Lights and Shadoivs of Sewickley Life.

tery to preach in Sewickley Valley as missionary ground,
deserves especial mention. Although not a resident of
the Valley at that time, he was identified with much of
the early religious history of this place. Three of his
daughters, Misses Emma, Zelia, and Mary, reside on
Fleming Avenue, and his son, S. D. Jennings, M.D.,
a practising physician in our borough, and an earnest
church worker in the Presbyterian Church, lives at the
corner of Beaver and Walnut Streets, his house occu-
pying the spot where the log-house of John Hoey, son
of Thomas Hoey, stood. Rev. S. C. Jennings was born
in Burgettstown, Washington County, Pa., in 1803. He
was a son of Dr. Ebenezer Jennings, a physician, and
a member of the Legislature to represent Washington
County at Lancaster in 1806. His grandfather was a
minister and physician, who was a surgeon in the army
of the Kevolution and the first Moderator of the Synod
of Pittsburg, in 1802. During his labors in Sewickley
Dr. Jennings frequently preached in the Shields' school-
house, and there, in infancy, Mary Anderson, afterwards
wife of Rev. James Allison, was baptized by him. He
became a student of medicine, that his life might more
nearly resemble that of his Master, " who went about
doing good," healing the body and speaking words of life
to the sin-sick soul. In his "Recollections of Seventy
Years," he says, in speaking of his work in Temperance-
ville, where he lived, and in addition to his work as
editor of The Christian Herald (now The Presbyterian
Banner, edited by Dr. Allison) preaching and pastoral
work for the two congregations at Sharon and Mount
Pisgah, —

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" About twenty years I was constrained to yield to
the application of persons who needed help, having as
my chief compensation the satisfaction of purchasing
the medicine and relieving suffering humanity. . . .
This mode of life afforded an opportunity of doing good
to some people who could not have been reached by
any one merely a minister."

Dettmer Basse, maternal great-grandfather of Dr. S.
D. Jennings, was a Westphalian by birth, and minister
to France from Frankfort, then a free city ; he came
from Paris in 1801 and settled in Conequenessing Valley,
where he purchased ten thousand acres of land.

Philip Louis Passavant (whose femily left France in
1594 on account of religious persecution) was born in
Frankfort-on-the-Main ; he married in 1807 and settled
in Zelianople. One of his daughters, Emma Marie
Wilhelmina Passavant, married Rev. S. C. Jennings.
Her brother. Rev. William A. Passavant, is a well-known
and beloved pastor, whose work for the sick and suffering
in the hos^jitals, as well as his daily devoted Christian
life and example, is so well known and felt. Zelianople
was named by Mr. Basse for his daughter Zelia, mother
of Mrs. Jennings and Dr. Passavant.

The second Presbyterian Church building, which occu-
pied the site of the residence of Mr. Reno, just across the
street from the present house of worship, was built in 1840.

Rev. Daniel E. Nevin, the first pastor, had been
preaching for two years in the school-room of Edgeworth
Seminary, where the church was organized. The first
time Mr. Nevin preached in the Valley, there being no
steamboat running that day, he walked fr(^m Allegheny.

106 Lights and Shadows of SewicMey Life.

'Rev. D. E. Nevin was born at Sliippensburg, Pa.,
graduated at Jefferson College in 1833, entered upon the
study of law in the office of the late Richard Biddle, but
in a short time became a student of the Western Theo-
logical Seminary in Allegheny, and graduated in 1836.

After a few years of faithful earnest work in the infant
church here and the church at Fairmount which shared
his time and labors, throat trouble, brought on from exjDO-
sure to a severe rain-storm when returnino- from a church
service, caused him to give wp both charges, much re-
gretted by his parishioners. Having taken charge some
time previously of the Edgeworth Seminary, the Sewick-
ley people had the comfort of seeing and worshipping still
with him ; but the Fairmount congregation were incon-
solable at his loss, saying, " We would rather have you, if
you were only able to sit in the pulpit, than any other
minister." His gentle, quiet manner endeared him to
teachers and pupils, but ill health compelled him to
abandon this work, too. During the subsequent years of
retirement and literary work, he always seemed like the
beloved disciple, and his life a sermon from the text,
" Little children, love one another."

When Mr. Nevin was locating here, having accepted
the charges of Fairmount and Sewickley, he was advised
by a friend to take up his abode out at Fairmount, as
Sewickley would never be much of a place.

Rev. James Allison was chosen pastor in 1848. The
Sewickley Church was his first charge, and he brought
to the work all the ardor and enthusiasm of a young
minister realizing his high calling and the open door of
opportunity in this fair Valley. A Bible class during the

REV. D. E. NEVIN.

THE NEW YORK

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Lights and Shadows of Sewickler/ Life. 109

week, and u class for the study of the Shorter Catechism
on Sunday afternoons, in addition to prayer-meeting and
Sunday-school work, were as powerful agents for good
as his sermons every Sunday. Quite a large number of
persons united with the church during his j)astorate
from 1848 to 1863. The first sermon I ever remember
to have heard was from his lips, and as the years sped on
and the prayer-meeting became a place of interest, the
pastor's remarks, the earnest prayers of the faithful few
who were never absent, as well as the " Songs of Zion"
sung by loved voices, made an impression tliat has been
a help and inspiration "all along the years." Rev.
James Allison was born in Pittsburg in 1823, but was
brought up near Bakerstown under the ministry of Rev.
John Moore and Rev. Leland R. McAboy. He gradu-
ated from Jefferson College in 1845. The same year he
entered the Western Theological Seminar}'- in Allegheny,
and graduated in May, 1848. The next Sabbath he
preached his first sermon in Sewickley. He had ar-
ranged to go to Iowa, and was quite taken by surprise
when asked to remain as stated supply for one year. In
October, 1849, he was ordained and installed pastor.
The congregation, though small, was much scattered,
and the pastor's duties were sometimes arduous. During
his pastorate there were received into the church five
hundred and eight persons. The pastoral relation was
dissolved at the request of Dr. Allison that he might
become one of the editors of the Presbyterian Banner.
Dr. Allison resides in our borough, and his face is often
seen and his voice heard in the churches of the different
denominations.

110 Lights and Shadows of Seivickley Life.

Dr. J. B. Bittinger was chosen pastor when the pulpit
became vacant on account of the resignation of Dr. Alli-
son because of ill health. For twenty-one years he was
the devoted, dearly-loved friend as well as j)astor of a
congregation that, even when physical weakness pre-
vented his being able to minister in the sanctuary,
refused to have the bond between pastor and people
sundered. We cull from a sketch by Mr. John Way,
Jr., one of his elders and a most devoted friend, the
following words :

" Joseph Baugher Bittinger was one of a family of twelve, the
offspring of German parentage. He was born March 30, 1823,
at his father's farm, about three miles north of the town of
Hanover, York County, Pa. At the age of twenty-one, Dr. Bit-
tinger was graduated from Pennsjdvania College, Gettysburg.
Five years later, completing bis theological studies at Andover
Seminary, he was licensed to preach the Gospel, having spent j)art
of the time meanwhile in teaching a private school in his native
place. For one year, 1849-50, he was principal of the Abbott
Female Seminary at Andover, Mass. He was then chosen pro-
fessor of rhetoric and philosophy in Middlebury College, Vermont.
This position he filled two years, during which (in 1851) he mar-
ried Miss Catherine Forney, a young lady of Hanover, Pa. In
1852 he was ordained an evangelist at Cornwall, Vermont. About
this time he was chosen pastor of the newly-formed congrega-
tion of the Euclid Avenue Presbyterian Church of Cleveland
(installed in 1853), and remained until 1862. For the next tAvo
years, being disabled by rheumatism, he did little work. Re-
covering somewhat, he accepted a call to the SeAvickley Presby-
terian Church in Ma}-, 1864, and was formally installed in July.
Constrained by continued. ill health, he tendered his resignation
as pastor of the church, February, 1885. It was reluctantly and
tearfully accepted, but, at the request of the Session, the formal
dissolution of the pastoral relation was not consummated, and

REV. JAMES ALLISON, D.D

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Lights and Shadoivs of l^eiclcklcy Life. 113

the man beloved by all died in the Jirms of his people in the
early morning of April 15, 1885.

"Dr. Bittinger believed in the worship of work. Mere senti-
ment in religion, withont some practical, tangible evidence of the
hope that is within, fonnd in him but little sympathy. With
a clear and intensely logical mind stored with knowledge far
out-reaching his profession as a minister of the Gospel, Dr. Bit-
tinger had a command of language and a facility of illustration
which was marvellous. For many years he never wrote his ser-
mons, and, indeed, made no ])revious preparations for the utter-
ance of his thoughts. For his illustrations he trusted to the
inspiration of the moment, and they were always brilliant and
to the point. A marked instance of his wonderful power in
extempore speaking was manifested in an address on Martin
Luther which he delivered by invitation before the Presbytery
of Allegheny, at the Central Presbyterian Church, Allegheny
City, in November, 1883, on the occasion of the four hundredth
anniversary of Luther's birth. In the preparation of this ad-
dress, which occupied nearly two hours in its delivery, no pen
had been put to paper. Taken down by a skilled phonographer,
and afterwards published in pamphlet form, it is a piece of
polished rhetoric and unanswerable logic.

"Dr. Bittinger's gifts were all of a high order. If in any one
direction he excelled, it was as a teacher. He was, indeed, a
teacher of teachers. His aptness of illustration came in here
especially. Nor was he satisfied with his ability to illustrate; he
was ever filling his mind with new facts, drawn from his personal
observation and from his extensive reading. Principles and
methods of teaching were a constant study, and the teachers of
Allegheny County owe more to him, perhaps, than to any other
man, for original and fundamental ideas on this point."

From Miss Bittinger's " Memorials" of her father, we
quote these words, written by his brother :

"During those twenty years on the banks of the Ohio, which
from his study in the morning sun was ever before his eye, he

114 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

had many temptations to go into what would be deemed larger
fields and more inviting lines of work ; but, knowing that he had
the unqualified confidence of his people, I doubt if he ever seri-
ously entertained the thought of leaving them. The field is
always large enough ; it is the man that is wanting. These
temptations were to other churches, to chairs in colleges and
seminaries, amongst them to the presidency of Washington and
Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, Mr. Blaine's Alma Mater, to which
he was urged by all the influence of his mother church. And to
take away every impediment in his j^ath, a college classmate of
large ideas and a generous heai't stejiped forward and promised
the endowment of the presidency in the sum of forty thousand
dollars; But to all these inducements he j^i'eferred his quiet
church by the river, and the ceaseless shuttle went to and fro.
Grradually, as the floods in the river abraded the banks along its
sweeping tide, carrying it out into the vast ocean, so his own life
was floodino- out into eternitv.

"His stud}^ was his workshop, with a most select assortment
of intellectual tools and appliances, all for use, nothing for orna-
ment, except a few choice pictures and bronzes, notably that of
the great Eeformer. And here, as he rhjmied it in his poem,
'The AYeaver,' published in the Atlantic Monthly^ the shuttle
went ever back and forth, at the fearful cost of life-blood."

THE WBAYER.

BY J. B. BITTINGER.
I.

The weaver sat by his burden.
Waiting the work to begin.

Dreamily throwing the shuttle
Backward and forward between ;

Questioning much of the pattern,
Watching for it to be seen.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

BUILT 1840.

THE NEV/ YORK

PTJ&-LIC LIBEARY

ACTOB, LENOX AND

Lights and Shadoirs of Sewickley Life. 117

The shuttle was filled with colors

Of every shade and glow ;
Thoughtless he scattered their radiance,

Falling above and below,
The pulse of the loom ever beating

Solemnly to and fro.

Tlie throb of the loom ijrew strono-er,

The shuttle flew faster between.
One thread seemed a line of shadow.

Another a ray serene ;
But the solemn loom wove together

Equally shade and sheen.

The weaver sat by his burden.

Watching the low-setting sun.
Wearily throwing the shuttle,

Ending as he had begun ;
Pondering still of the pattern —

The pattern that was done.

II.

The weaver took to his bosom
The web as it fell from the loom ;

In its man}^ folds laj' hidden
Whatever of lio-ht or o-loom

Had come through the flying shuttle,
From the gray of dawn till doom.

Buttercups with dew besprent,

Forget-me nots in tears,
Bedight the fabric of the loom

Through all the dawning j-ears ;
The texture of those mornino; hours

A fairy weft appears.

118 Lights and Shadows of SewicMey Life.

Lilies with their vestal light,

And orange blossoms pale,
Illume the woof of youthful days

And show a bridal veil —
'Mid blue-eyed flax and ears of wheat,

A distatf and a flail.

Patterns of the after years,

The olive and the vine,
Adorn the richness of the folds,

Its costliest threads entwine ;
And through the labors of those days

Altars and firesides shine.

Barren husks from winter fields.

And tardy asters' light,
Glint o'er the few remaining threads

That dimmed the weaver's sight ;
And then a shadow falls upon

The web, and, lo ! 'tis night.

The following words, written by Thomas Patterson,
Esq., one of his elders, express very beautifully the char-
acter of this great scholar, devoted pastor, and humble
Christian :

When I am dead, and men shall come
To lay me in my last, long home.
Could I by chance hear what they say,
Awe-struck and whispering round my clay.

What words would. bear the sweetest tone?

I shall not care what art hath done,
I shall not care for trophies won ;
For art, with sense, shall pass away
When I am dead ;

REV. J. B. BITTINGER, D.D.

TBE NEW YORK

PUm.IC LlBiiARY

ASTOB, LENCX AND
TILDBN FOUNDATIONS

Lights and Shadows of Sewicldey Life. 121

But that, perhaps, one might be there
Could say, "He brought me strength to bear
My trial, brought me truth and light
In darkness, strove he for the right;
I think God hath him in His care,
Xow he is dead.

Rev. AV. O. Campbell, D.D., the present pastor, was
born in Middlesex Township, Butler County, in 1841,
and shortly afterwards removed to the town of Butler.
He attended Witherspoon Institute. In 1858 he en-
tered Jefferson College, and graduated in 1862. In
August of the same year he enlisted in the United
States Army, Company K, 134th Begiment, Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers, Colonel M. S. Quay. After the battle
of Fredericksburg he was promoted to the captaincy of
his company. Mr. Campbell entered the Western Theo-
logical Seminary in the fall of 1868, then, after two
years spent at Princeton Seminary, was licensed to
preach by the Presbytery of Allegheny (now Butler) in
1865, and preached three years at Depere, Wisconsin.
He was married September 14, 1868, to Miss Mary L.
Shaw, of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania. In 1870 he was
called to Monongahela City.

For two years, 1883 and 1884, he taught in the depart-
ment of homiletics in the Western Theoloo;ical Seminary.
In 1885 the degree of D.D. was conferred by Wooster
University. Dr. Campbell was installed pastor of Beaver
Street Presbyterian Church, Sewickley, September 8,
1885.

One who for many months was deprived of the privi-
leges of God's house, whose days of weariness and pain

122 Lights and Shadows of Sewichley Life.

were cheered and blessed by the faithful ministrations of
her pastor, always associated him with her idea of " the
disciple whom Jesus loved ;" and, with this in mind, the
following quotation from a sermon delivered soon after
taking charge of this flock, seems especially appropriate :
" ' By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.'

" The grace which was most manifest in Christ was
that which the Apostle Paul calls the greatest of all
graces. The strength of the Church is in its unity, and
its unity is in the spirit of love, which is the bond of
perfectness. Christ prays for His people that 'they all
may be perfected into one ; that the world may know
that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou
lovedst me.'

" The most powerful testimony for Christ which disci-
ples can give is, not that in which the intellectual ele-
ment predominates, but that in which the spirit of love
and gentleness and compassion is most clearly manifest.
That which drew publicans and sinners to Christ was His
love. It is a striking fact, that those who were regarded
as the worst people were strongly attracted to one who
was the truest, the holiest, the most just of the sons of
men ; but it was not His truth or His holiness or His
justice that first attracted them ; it was His love. The
secret of His power was in His all-embracing love.
This, dear friends, is the spirit that we want, and just as
we have it may we expect to be efficient witnesses for
Christ. What, then, is necessary that we should fulfil
our vocation ? What is necessary that this church
should in the future be a power for good in the midst

REV. W. O. CAMPBELL, D.D.

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOB, LEWCX AND

TILDBN FOUNDATIONS

B L

Lights and Shadoics of Sewicklei/ Life. 125

of this community? It is not necessary that it shoukl
have an eloquent ministry ; it is not necessary that it
shonkl be strong in point of intellect, or wealth, or
numbers. If we are satisfied to build up a church
which shall have the j^ower that resides in tliese things,
we shall not be powerful in the sense that Christ desires
us to be. I believe that the temptation to self-compla-
cency for our sacrifices, our devotedness, our self-denial,
to glory in ministers, in means, in numbers and contri-
butions, is very powerful. Let us look to the Lord to
deliver us from this snare. Let us try to look at such
success as this implies as altogether external. True
power depends on other conditions. Christ did not call
many wise ; He did not seek the wealthy as such ; He
did not count the number of His disciples. That is a
morbid disposition which manifests itself in ' counting
heads.' What Christ seeks in a church is spiritual
power.

" We want intellect, indeed, but intellect that shall be
wholly sanctified by the Spirit of God ; we want wealth,
but wealth that shall be in the hands of those who shall
be willing to devote it to the extension of the Redeemer's
kingdom : we want numbers, but numbers of such as
shall be saved.

"We want, for the purpose of bearing testimony to a
callous world, a people who shall live in daily union
with Christ, who shall be filled with His s})irit, who shall
be strong in faith, who shall be steadfast in the ways of
righteousness, who shall be willing to accept the lowliest
work in the service of Christ, wdiose hearts shall be full
of love to their Lord and Master."

1 26 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

The Fiftieth Anniversary exercises of the Presby-
terian Church, on February 17, 1888, were exceedingly
interesting.

The exercises were :

Anthem — " We Praise Thee^ 0 God.''

BY THE CHOIR.

Hymn 32 — "All Sail the Power of Jesus' Name."

by congregation.

Eeading of the Scripture.

Prayer.

Trio — " Lord., Thy Glory Fills the Heavens."

MRS. J. SHARPE m'dONALD,
MR. W. W. WHITESELL, MR. ROBERT J. CUNNINGHAM.

l^Q2,-l^Q4.— Historical Address.

rev. james allison, d.d.
Solo.

MRS. J. SHARPE m'dONALD.

im4:-l^^^— Historical Addresses.

MR. JOHN F. ROBINSON, MR. GEORGE H. CHRISTY.

Anthem — "It is a Good Thing to Give Thanks''

CHOIR.

The Sabbath-School.

mr. thomas patterson, mr. frank c. osburn.

Hymn 569 — "OA, Where are Kings and Empires Now?"

congregation,
doxology.

Benediction.

Social Meeting.

The elders who have served in this congregation are :
James McLaughlin, John B. Champ, Thomas Back-

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THE NEW YOBK

PUR-LIC L1BB,AB.Y

ASTOB, LENOX AND

TILDBIN FOUNDATIONS

B L

Lights and Shadows of Seiciekley Life. 129

house, Robert Anderson, James Laird, William Woods,
M.D., George H. Starr, Campbell McLaughlin, Samuel
K. Williams, John K. Wilson, Theodore H. Nevin,
Robert H. Davis, William P. Jones, John K. Wilson,
James L. Carnaghan, John Way, Jr., John Irwin, Jr.,
John F. Robinson, Melancthon W. McMillan, Geoi'ge
H. Christy, W. W. Waters, Thomas Patterson, Frank
C. Osburn.

Theodore Hugh Nevin was born October 23, 1815,
near the village of Roxbury, Franklin County, Pa.,
about ten miles from Shippensburg. When six years
old the family removed to Shippensburg, where he at-
tended school until he was sixteen years old. He
then went to Pittsburg and studied with his brother
Daniel, their brother John W. Nevin being the in-
structor. After three years spent in study he went to
Michigan to engage in mercantile pursuits, returning in
two years to Pittsburg. His business career extended
over fifty years of faithful, earnest work. He lived in
Sewickley during the last thirty years of his life, and
during all that time was an earnest Christian worker, an
elder in the Presbyterian Church, teacher of a Bible-
class, and for many years superintendent of the Sunday-
school. As a member of his Bible-class and a regular
attendant of the weekly prayer-meeting, where he was
always found, I recall many of his earnest words. Mr.
Nevin first became officially connected with the Western
Theological Seminary of Allegheny in 1842, when he
was elected treasurer of the endowment fund. At an
alumni meeting of the faculty, directors, trustees, and
friends of the Seminary held in the First Presbyterian

130 Lights and Shadoivs of Seioickley Life.

Churcli of Pittsburg shortly before his death, the follow-
ing resolution was adopted :

" To our worthy and esteemed treasurer, Theodore H. jSTevin,
Esq., who, with very small compensation, has managed the
finances of our i\.lma Mater with such admirable skill, for now
more than forty years, that not one dollar has been lost hj in-
judicious investment or otherwise, we tender not only our con-
gratulations and the thanks of the friends of the institution, but
our heart-felt sympathy in his present affliction and prayers for
his speedy recovery."

Mr. Nevin became connected with the Western Peni-
tentiary in 1864, and was an earnest, active worker for
the good of the inmates. He was one of the leaders in
securing the abolishment of solitary confinement thei'e,
and many times aj^pointed as a delegate to important
meetings in Cincinnati, St. Louis, New York, London,
etc. When the war broke out, no one in the Valley
did more to help and encourage the soldiers. He aided
largely in organizing the Nevin's Battery (Battery H), of
which the late Colonel John I. Nevin was captain. He
gave his elder son to his country, who was soon called to
give up his young life for the cause.

In every movement for the public good in Sewickley, —
the water-works, the new cemetery, the improvement of
the roads, etc., — Mr. Nevin took an active part; but his
warmest sympathies and most earnest work were given
to the beloved Church which owes so much to him.

Mr. Nevin was married in 1844 to Miss Hannah
Irwin, sister of Mrs. Daniel Nevin and Mr. John Irwin,
of the Valley.

Mr. Charles F. Nevin, who succeeded his father in

WILLIAM WOODS, M.D

JP*^

GEORGE H. STARR.

THE NEW YORK

^UMC LIBRARY

AST05. LENOX AND

Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life. 133

tlie lead business in Allegheny, is well known to all our
citizens. He married Miss Lizzie Grafton, They, with
their two children, Theodore and Elizabeth, reside on
Academy Avenue, near Quaker Valley Station.

Of the young men who have become ministers of
the Gospel who were connected with the Presbyterian
Church and Sunday-school were :

Kev. Thomas Beer, born in Sewickley and baptized
in the " Old Sewickley Church."

Rev. Isaac M. Cook, born in Ohio, and, while attend-
ing Sewickley Academy, united with the church here.

Rev. John M. Peebles, who was for a time a medical
student, but afterwards became a minister.

Charles B, McClay, a pupil of the old Academy at
Quaker Valley, was a pastor several years, afterwards a
physician and poet.

Rev. A. M. Reid, Ph.D., of Steubenville, was born in
Beaver County, Pa. ; a teacher and student in Mr. Tra-
velli's Academy, studied theology, and became a suc-
cessful pastor, and Principal of Steubenville Female
Seminary.

Rev. W. W. Ralston united with the church while
attending Mr. Travelli's Academy, and afterwards studied
theology, and has filled important charges in Ohio and
this State.

Rev. John Quincy Adams Fullerton spent his boy-
hood in connection with this church, and is now pastor
of the Presbyterian Church, Apollo, Pa.

Mr. Robert Cochran, a ScAvickley boy, and a pupil
of the Presbyterian Sunday-school, is now pastor of a
large and flourishing congregation in Harrisburg, Pa.

1 34 Lights and Shadows of SeioicJcIey Life.

Of the first three Sunday-school superintendents, Mr.
Allison, Prof. A. M. Reid, and Mr. Starr, who in turn
served for a short time, I remember nothing, Sunday-
schools had been held at different j)laces, but the first one
connected directly with the church was started by Mr.
Allison in 1848. There were four teachers, Mr. and Mrs.
Starr, Prof. Keid (now Dr. Peid, of Steuben ville), and
Mr. John Way (now of New Lisbon, Ohio). The next
superintendent, who filled the position for many years,
was the Principal of the Academy. Every Sunday morn-
ing he went from class to class, shaking hands with the
teachers, speaking a kind word, or gently stroking the
head of one and another of the children, while his face
beamed with love and good will to all. He used to give
us some of the most helpful and instructive talks about
his previous life as a missionary. I remember a sermon
he preached on influence, from the text, " No man liveth
unto himself;" and if ever a minister practised what he
preached, it was Pev. Joseph S. Travelli. After his work
in the Academy was finished, leaving its impress on hun-
dreds who are to-day scattered throughout the length and
breadth of our land, other duties and cares were taken up,
for which the days seemed all too short, but he never in the
midst of his busy life lost sight of his " boys and girls."
Even when his work at Piverside among the erring and
depraved took so much of his time and energy (a work
that made a good impression on the minds of many who
afterwards led reformed and useful lives), he found time
to visit the sick and speak a word of comfort to the dying.
Who can estimate the harvest of his life-work as mission-
ary, teacher, Sunday-school superintendent, and friend f

THEODORE H. NEVIN.

ROBERT H. DAVIS.

THE flEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

A3T0B, LBNCX AND

TILDBN FOUNDATIONS

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IJf/Jits and Shadows of Sewiddeij Life. 137

The weekly prayer-meeting held in the little church
was well attended, and all parties and meetings of a
social nature were arranged so as not to interfere with
Wednesday night. By the light of a lantern, j^lodding
our way through the nuid, sometimes stopping to take
up an overshoe that had been left behind, and again
escaping some of the mud by climbing a fence and
going through a grassy field, we reached the meeting,
where all our tribulations by the way were forgotten,
and we had " a foretaste of heaven." There were not
many in the small congregation who were willing to
take part in conducting the meetings, but among the
few who did were two who never allowed fatigue or a
j^ress of business in store or workshop to prevent their
being ready at the appointed hour to go to the place of
jDrayer. One of them, a perfect Nathanael in his guile-
less life, impressing others in his quaint remarks with the
reality and beauty of his religion ; the other, whose hum-
ble words of adoration and praise kindled the zeal and
strengthened the faith of many a weak disciple, and
whose quiet deeds of charity and kindness caused many
to " rise up and call him blessed :" these two, obeying the
commands of their Master as they ministered to " the
necessities of the saints," were united by the bond of
Christian love and sympathy. As I remember them
lingering by the way-side at the close of the meeting, ere
going to their homes, earnestly conversing of the things
" unseen and eternal," I fancy them now, in the " home
beyond," recounting the way in which they were led, and
uniting in the " New Song" as they rejoice over every
soul gathered home from this loved spot.

138 Lights and Shadows of SewicJdey Life.

The elders we remember as serving in tliose early-
days were Dr. Woods and Mr. Starr, — faithful, earnest,
devoted, godly men, the influence of whose example is
still felt in our midst.

Eev. David McKinney, D.D., Editor of the Presby-
terian Banner, was long a resident here, and many times
preached in both the old and new churches. For many
years after he had grown old and feeble and partially
deaf, he occupied the chair, near the pulpit of the new
church, which had been presented by the members of the
congregation as a token of love and gratitude.

Oh, how many precious memories cluster around the
dear old church ! Mrs. Starr beautifully expressed these
thoughts in the following lines :

THOUGHTS ON LEAVING THE OLD CHUECH.

BY MRS. RACHEL HOOKER STARR.

O Thou whose uncreated mind

Fills all the boundless realms of space,

By time, by distance not confined,
Eternity thy dwelling-place!

Thou, Lord, earth's corner-stone didst lay
When morning stars together sung ;

This earth, these heavens, will pass away,
Thy power endures — forever young.

But what is man, frail child of dust!

Age follows age like wave on wave ;
One moment gives him life at first.

Another brings him to the grave.

W. W. WATERS.

Lights and Shadoics of SewiGldey Life. 141

The works of art men proudl}' build

Endure but a few fleeting j'ears ;
Our lives, still shorter, sooner filled,

Our earth a vale of sighs and tears.

Here mourn we dear, departed friends
Who shouted as this temple rose ;

Their works of faith and love remain,
AYhile they are wrapped in calm repose.

They to these walls impart a bi"eath,
And, hark ! what is the spirit sound ?

"Oh, be thou faithful unto death,

And thou shalt be in glory crowned."

Honored and consecrated spot,

To memory thou wilt still be dear ;

Accept the tribute of the heart.
The parting sigh, the falling tear !

Oh, may the Heavenl}- Dove still rest
With the first guardian of this fold.

And be his crown, in regions blest,
Richly adorned with gems untold.

O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Thou One in Three and Three in One,

Help Thou the watchman of our host
To blow the trump with certain sound.

On him may grace most plenteous fall
As he on Zion's faithful waits,

That crowds may, at Salvation's call,
Tread joyful the new temple gates.

142 Lights and Shadows of Sewichley Life.

Mr. Way says that the first intimation of a Sunday-
school among tlie early records is an item in which " one
dollar's worth of Sunday-school tracts" is charged. This
was in 1829, and the Sunday-school started then in the
old log church continued until 1835. It was held during
the summer, Mr. James McLaughlin and Mr. Hodge
conducting the school. Among the teachers were Mr.
Vance, Miss Eliza Anderson, Miss Polly Beer, Miss
Mary McLaughlin, and Mr. William Grossman.

The teachers we remember as connected with the school
during the years when Mr. Travelli was Superintendent
were Mr. and Mrs. George H. Starr, Messrs. John Way,
Jr., T. H. Nevin, James M. Loughridge, Misses Kebecca
L. Way, Mary Anderson, Sarah Lambert, Lizzie Jones,
Amelia Nettler ; then, later on, Mary Woolridge, Henry
M. Atwood, Kate Wilson, Eebecca Wilson, Belle War-
drop, Mary Wardrop, Susan M. Ellis, Daisy Davis,
Mattie Nevin, Jennie Davis, Rebecca Davis, Margaret
Porter, Emily Neely, Agnes L. Ellis.

The Superintendent of the Sunday-school at the
present time is Mr. W. W. Waters, manager of the
Presbyterian Book-store, Pittsburg. Mr. Waters was
born in Allegheny County, is of English descent, and
grandson of a Bevolutionary soldier. Mrs. Waters is
a daughter of the late Pev. B. C. Critchlow, of New
Brighton, Pa. Mr. Waters is a faithful church-worker,
both as elder and Sunday-school superintendent.

Mr. George H. Christy, one of our elders, has a large
Bible-class, which he has taught very faithfully and ac-
ceptably for twenty-five years. The class is comprised
of both ladies and gentlemen, who esteem it a privilege

I
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>
ca

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PUB-LIC LMUiAHY

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Lights and Shadows of Sewickkij Life. 145

to listen from week to week to Mr. Christy's faithful,
well-prepared teachings.

Mr. John Way, Jr., has been teaching since 1849.
He commenced when a pupil of the Academy, and in
that time has had under his care three hundred and
eighty-nine young men. Outside of this number, a great
number of young men have, through the quiet work —
the harvest of which we cannot estimate — of Mr. Way
and his working pupils, been influenced and helped by
a little note sent or a good book lent, thus " coming into
contact with the spirit of the Bible-class."

Five of the young men of that class have become
ministers, — Andrew C. Ellis and Samuel Mackey uniting
with the Methodist Cluirch, W. J. Radir joining the
Episcoj)al, John A. Duff connecting with the United
Presbyterian, and Robert Cochran uniting with the
Presbyterian Church of Sewickley.

Mrs. Way (formerly Miss Kate Wilson) was for many
years a faithful, earnest teacher, and she still feels the
same deep interest in " her boys," although they have
left her care and are scattered here and there, many of
them owing the ability to " choose the good and forsake
the evil way" to the influence and prayers of the faithful
teacher, so gratefully remembered. Rev. J. Q. A. Ful-
lerton was a member of her class.

The infaut class is taught by Mr. George W. Cochran,
who has held the position for twenty years. Mr. Cochran
was married to Miss Martha Nevin, daughter of the late
Rev. D. E. Nevin.

Captain Cochran, as he is usually called, has filled
many positions of trust in the borough, — burgess and

146 Lights and Shadows of SewieMey Life.

councilman, besides being one of tlie water commis-
sioners and a director of tbe Sewickley Cemetery. To
his energy and influence we owe the fire de|)artment,
the engine-house being named for him,

Tlie mission school at Osburn is connected with this
church ; it was organized about twenty-six years ago
through the efforts of Miss E,. B. Davis (now Mrs. Dr.
Willard). Mr. William McKown was the first suj^er-
intendent. Among the teachers were Miss K. B. Davis,
Miss Haslin, Mr. James, and Benjamin Parks.

For a time the school was conducted in the old school-
house, but at length the present commodious building
was planned by Mrs. R. H. Davis, who, being laid aside
by ill health, committed the work to her brother, Cap-
tain George W. Cochran, who carried the work forward
to completion. The superintendents have been, Mr.
William McKown, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Wm. Jones, Mr.
Bake well, and Judge Over.

The Leetsdale Presbyterian Church was organized
August 1, 1864, in Edgeworth Seminary, with forty-
three members, all of whom had been dismissed by cer-
tificate from the Borough Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Allison, in his historical discourse, says, " Edge-
worth Seminary opened its hospitable doors to the Leets-
dale Church as it had done to the Sewickley Church, and
public worship was held there until the building was
consumed by fire in February, 1865 ; after that services
were held for a time in the ' Shields' school-house,' on
the high ground above the Beaver Boad on this side of
Little Sewickley, where a weekly prayer-meeting had
been maintained for many years."

REV. R. S. VAN CLEVE.

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOS. LB?fOX AND
Taj)EN |T'il'N(tATUIiV8

Lif/lifs (Old Shadows of Sewicldey Life. 149

Sevvickley Church, at the beginning- of the present
organization, was hirgely indebted to a woman; l)ut
Leetsdale is under still greater obligations to a woman,

Mrs. Eliza Shields was the daughter of a Revolutionary
soldier who had served on the staff of General Wash-
ington. From her father she had inherited large posses-
sions here, and for years it had been in her heart to erect
to the memory of her father, Major Daniel Leet, and her
mother, Wilhelmina, something that would be a blessing to
her children and her children's children and her neighbors,
and also to the glory of God. Now her time had come;
and, although far advanced in life, she acted with great
vigor and intense earnestness. First she donated a lot
estimated to be worth $1200 ; during the summer she
put up a chapel at a cost of $2300 ; then she erected the
beautiful house of worship now occupied by the Leets-
dale Ghurch at a cost of $18,000. The chapel was dedi-
cated to the worship of God in the summer of 18G5.
The corner-stone of the church was laid June 23, 18(58,
and it was dedicated to the worship of the triune God
on Sabbath, November 14, 1869. The dedication sermon
was preached by Kev. James Allison. The sermon in
the afternoon was by the Rev. David R. Kerr, D.D., of
the United Presbyterian Church, and in the evening by
Rev. S. J. Wilson, D.D. In the meantime the people
had erected a manse, which, with the lot, cost $4000, and
furnished the church at an expense of $1500 ; and after-
wards a son of Mrs. Shields, namesake of' her father,
Daniel Leet Shields, made a bequest of $5000, the in-
come of which is forever to be expended in keeping the
church buildings and grounds in good repair.

150 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

Mrs. Shields died March 21, 1872, and her works will
follow her throughout all generations. Though dead,
she will through the church which she builded preach
the Gospel during all the succeeding ages.

On the 8th of March, 1865, Rev. W. W. Eels was
called to the Leetsdale Church, but on June 23, 1866,
ill health caused him to give up the charge to which he
had ministered for a time.

Kev. James Piatt was installed pastor in June, 1867,
and resigned August, 1867.

Rev. R. S. Van Cleve was called to the pastorate of
Leetsdale Church January, 1870, and installed in May.
He resigned September 21, 1886, leaving the beloved
people he had served so long, in the hope of regaining
by rest and retirement the health whose failure caused
him to resign ; his last sermon was October 3, 1886.
Mr. Van Cleve is a native of Beaver Meadow, Carbon
County, Pa. He is at present pastor of the Chestnut
Street Presbyterian Church of Erie, Pa. Through the
efforts of Mr. Van Cleve and his people, " Van Cleve
Chapel" was built, where Rev. Mr. Sayres, a returned
South American missionary, labored as pastor.

Rev. Edgar F. Johnson, who succeeded Mr. Van
Cleve, was born at New Jackson, Ohio, January 19,
1859. He graduated from Amlierst College 1885, and
from the Western Theological Seminary 1887. He was
installed pastor of the Leetsdale congregation July 12,
1887, and resigned his charge March 25, 1890.

Rev. James L. Reed, the present pastor, was born in
AVashington County, Pa., and spent his boyhood on a
farm. He was educated at Washington and Prince-

REV. JAMES L. REED.

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ton Colleges, graduating from the latter in 1870. He
studied theology in the Western Theological Seminary
of Allegheny. His first charge was at Independence,
Washington Presbytery, where he remained eight years.
He next spent one year in missionary work at Puebla,
Colorado, after which he took charge of the church at
Barnesville, Ohio, remaining six years. In July, 1891,
he was installed pastor of the Leetsdale Church.

During the past two years about $7000 have been
expended by the Leetsdale congregation for a new oi'gan
and other improvements.

Mr. William Abercrombie, the leader of the congre-
gational singing, has been for many years a resident of
the borough.

Mr. John K. Wilson, who was an elder in the Presby-
terian Church on Beaver Street, was one of those who
united to form the Leetsdale congregation. He was
born in Washington, Pa.; graduated at Washington
College in the class of 1815. He removed to Sewickley
in 1851. He died at Leetsdale, July 4, 1882. Dr.
Allison says of him : " He was an intelligent, pains-
taking, and thoroughly conscientious man in all the
relations of life. He was a diligent student of the
Bible, watchful of his own heart and ways, well in-
formed concerning the progress of the church, intensely
anxious for its welfare and for the suppression of evil in
every form. His prayers were exceedingly rich in ap-
propi'iate quotations of Scripture, and in earnestness and
tenderness ; none who heard them will ever forget them."

Mr. Jacob Guy came to Sewickley many years ago.
How clearly I remember his earnest prayers in the j^rayer-

1 54 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

meeting in the old brick church during the pastorate of
Dr. Allison. He is remembered in the Leetsdale Church
as an earnest, devoted, faithful man of God.

The elders who have served in the Leetsdale Church
are: John K. Wilson, Jacob Guy, Henry M. Atvvood,
Robert Wardrop, clerk and treasurer of Session ; William
Seaman, James M. Kerr. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Guy
having previously served as elders were the choice of
the people when the organization took place, and the
others are the members of the present Session. The
church membership is one hundred and thirty-nine.
The Sunday-school, under the superintendence of Mr.
Seaman, numbers one hundred and twenty scholars.

Mr. Way, in his address on the " Olden time in
Sewickley,'' says : " In 1826, David Shields, for the
use of his neighbors and tenantry, built the little brick
school-house still standing on the high ground near to
and opposite his late residence.

" This building was used for school, prayer-meetings,
and general church purposes. On November 27 of the
same year Mr. Samuel Shannon opened there a small
day-school. From time to time, as occasion offered,
there was preaching there and prayer-meetings ; the
itinerant preacher always finding at Mr. Shields's house
a welcome for himself and his horse. In this little
school-house on the hill, about the year 1835, Mrs.
Shields beoan an afternoon Sundav-school, which she
personally superintended many years.

"The school began usually as soon as the spring
weather would admit, and continued always to Christ-
mas, when each boy and girl received some suitable

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present at the liuncls of the ' elect lady,' and a bounti-
ful supply of cakes and apples. At times, these cheer-
ful entertainments were held in her own house.

" This Sunday-school continued without intermission,
except during the winter months, until about 1844, during
which time Mrs. Shields received occasional assistance in
the superintendence from John B. Champ and Isaac M.
Cook. Her teachers were the members of her own house-
hold and of one or two neighboring and intimate families,
and sometimes the lady teachers of the Edgeworth Female
Seminary.

" One of her aids deserves especial mention, her car-
riage driver, a giant African of brawn and muscle, who
could neither read nor write, and whose knowledge of
mathematics was limited to four, — the number of horses
in his farm team. At times, when Mrs. Shields was
unable from rheumatism to climb the steep hillside to
her little Sunday-school, big Harry Robinson would
tenderly assist her with his huge arms. He used his
one talent, strength, in a good cause and with a loving
heart.

" ' I think the lesson is as good
To-day as it was then ;
As good to lis called Christians,
As to the heathen men, —

" ' The lesson of St. Christopher.

Who spent his strength for others,
And saved his soul by working hard
To help and save his brothers.'

" In 18'j9, Mrs. Shields' Sunday-school was resumed

158 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

under the care of Mr. Joliii K. Wilson, and in 1864 it
became a part of the Leetsdale Presbyterian Church, so
continuing up to the present time."

ST. Stephen's episcopal church.

The origin of the congregation that worships in the
neat little church (an interior view of which we give on
another page) was on this wise. When General Cass
was about to build a summer residence at Osburn, (the
home now occupied by Mr. Thomas Hare,) to those
who urged him to take up his abode there permanently,
his objection was based on the fact that there was no
Episcopal Church in Sewickley. Mr. Colhoun, whose
residence was near Park Place Hotel, or what was then
the Sewickley Academy, urged General Cass to unite
with him in trying to found a church here, although
there were not many Episcopalians in the Valley. Mr.
Frank Hutchinson, who was engaged in business in
Sewicklev, united with General Cass and Mr. Colhoun
in their efforts, and soon the present church building
was the result.

Eev. Joseph P. Taylor, Rector of Kenwood school
for boys, in New Brighton, Pa., held two services in
Sewickley in 1861, baptizing one child, Adelaide Col-
houn. His report led to the engagement of P. Ten
Broeck, Deacon, of Pittsburg, to hold services three
Sundays a month for six months from December 21,
1862. The services were held in the Methodist Church
the first Sunday. The congregation consisted of eleven
persons.

The small brick Presbyterian Church was offered and

SHIELDS' SCHOOL-HOUSE.
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accepted, ancl the work was carried on until Sewickley
was appointed a station by the Board of Missions. Then
Rev. Ten Broeck devoted the whole of his time to the
parish.

At that time (1863) a threatened invasion of the
State caused much excitement, and, as soon as it died
away, Mr. Ten Broeck and Mr, George Colhoun began
to solicit subscriptions for the purchase of a lot wliich
Mr, Colhoun held for tliat purpose. Rev. Mr. Ten
Broeck prepared plans and specifications, and broke the
ground, September 28, 1863. The corner-stone was laid
by Rev. David Cook Page, D.D., of Allegheny City,
assisted by other clergy in the vicinity. The church was
occupied for the first time, March 4, 1864, and conse-
crated May 28, 1864, by Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D.,
Bishop of Pennsylvania, assisted by Rt. Rev. Wm, B.
Stevens, D.D., (who preached the sermon,) and seventeen
clergy.

General Cass, Mr. Colhoun, and Mr. Hutchinson pur-
chased the remainder of the lot, corner of Broad and
Vine Streets, upon which a parsonage was built.

August 16, 1865, Rev. William P. Ten Broeck re-
signed the charge of St. Stephen's, and on September 1
officiated for the last time.

October 1, 1865, Rev. William Wilson officiated for
the first. He resigned in 1868.

Rev. Samuel Earp took charge January, 1869, re-
signing November, 1870.

S. B. Moore was called January, 1871 ; resigned in

1873. He was succeeded by Rev. George W. Easter,

who resigned in 1876.

162 Lights and Shadows of SeivicHey Life.

Rev. Norman W. Camp, D.D., of the diocese of Long
Island, N. Y., took charge Jannary 1, 1877 ; resigned
November 20, 1882.

December, 1882, Rev. Edmund Bnrke became pastor,
and remained nntil 1885,

The present pastor. Rev. Robert A. Benton, " comes
of a New England family, which has been established
in Connecticnt and Massachusetts since the earliest set-
tlement of the country. His boyhood and youth were
spent in North Carolina, where his father had the care
of a small parish. From thence he went to Trinity Col-
lege, Hartford, Conn., from which he was graduated in
1864. Mr. Benton at once engaged in teaching, being
connected with St. Paul's School, Concord, N. H., for
twenty years. While there he studied theology, and
was ordained to the ministry in 1869, after which he
added missionary and parish work to his duties as a
teacher. In 1884 he removed to ]\Ieadville, Pa., and in
Aj^ril, 1885, to Sewickley, in order to take charge of St.
Stephen's parish.

"Though making parish work the chief thing, Mr.
Benton has not laid aside the role of teacher, having
taught for four years in Mr. Way's Academy, and, after
that, having organized the grammar school," which he
now conducts so successfully.

The first church baptism in St. Stephen's was that of
Mary Jane Helyar, July 24, 1863, by Rev. William P.
Ten Broeck.

The first class confirmed by Bishop Kerfoot, Novem-
ber 17, 1865, consisted of George W. Cass, George
Francis Colhoun, Francis Helyar, Mrs. Mary Ann

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Akin, Miss Martlui E. Collioun, ]\[iss Mary K. Cass,
and Miss Julia W. Scliweppe.

The first marriage of any of the clinrcli members
was that of Francis M. Hutchinson and Miss Sophia
L. Cass, by Rev. William P. Ten Broeck, February 8,
1866. Mrs. Hutchinson is the only one of the mem-
bers who composed the new congregation in 1863 that
is left in Sewickley.

MEMORIALS.

There have been from time to time memorials pre-
sented to the church of ,St. Stephen's by its parishioners.

One set of books, consisting of a large Bible and two
prayer-books, was presented by the friends of the de-
ceased mother of the first rector. Rev. William P. Ten
Broeck, February 26, 1864. " Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord."

In 1864, the silver communion service was presented
by Mr. George W. Colhoun, "in loving memory of his
aunts, Martha and Ann Colhoun."

For Christmas, 1881, a tine cabinet organ, bearing the
inscription, "In loving memory of our mother," was the
gift of Messrs. John and Frank M. Hutchinson.

White embroidered hangings for lectern and pulpit
were the gift of Miss Lucy Little. AVliite embroidered
altar cover from Miss Elizabeth Cass.

At Easter, 1887, the original altar was replaced by
one of quartered oak, bearing the inscription, " To the
glory of God, and in loving memory of our sister, Mary
Little. Entered into rest, March 12, 1886." The gift

166 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life. '

of Mrs. William Gorman, Mrs. H. A. Gilmore, Miss
Lucy Little, and Mrs. E. L. Miiclie.

The altar service-book was given by General George
W. Cass.

The bishop's chair was presented by tlie Misses Cass.

The brass altar cross and retable bear the inscription,
" To the glory of God, and in loving memory of Mary
Louise Hutchinson," and were from Miss Violet Cass.

The brass altar vases are " In memory of my brother,
George Dawson Cass," from Mrs. Frank M. Hutchinson.

In 1890 a credence shelf was added to the chancel
furnishment, "In loving memory of Mary Louise Hutch-
inson," by her mother, Mrs. Frank M. Hutchinson.

On Christmas, 1891, a beautiful font of pure white
Italian marble was presented to the church by David
Morris Smith, Irvin H. Smith, and Frank B. Smith,
Jr., children of Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Smith, mem-
bers of St. Ste2)hen's. The words, " In the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,"
are carved upon it.

Mrs. Hepburns Johns made and presented a font
cover of oak and brass, containing the words, " One
faith, one Lord, one baptism."

The followino; are the names of the ladies of the
Chancel Society of St. Stephen's Church : Miss Rose
Davis, Miss Carrie Davis, Miss Virginia R. Chaplin,
Miss Nellie Hutchinson, Miss Lizzie Richardson, Miss
Mamie Dippold, Mrs. Robert J. Cunningham, Mrs.
Percy L. Rider, Mrs. George P. Rose, Mrs. Frank B.
Smith, Mrs. James Ritchie, Mrs. Joseph P. Rankin,
Miss Minnie Anderson, Miss Elsie Graff.

REV. ROBERT BENTON.

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Associate Members. — Miss Jane McDonald, Miss Mag-
gie McDonald.

Presides f. — JNIiss Virginia R. Cha[)lin.

Vice-President. — Mrs. Frank B. Smith.

Treasurer. — Miss Kose Davis.

Secretary. — Mrs. George P. Rose.

Vestrymen. — Mr. B. W. Doyle, Mr. Percy L. Rider,
Mr. James R. Gil more, Mr. Harry W. Richardson, ^Ir.
Frank B. Smith, Mr. Edward B. Taylor.

The first minister of any denomination who held
regnlar religious services in Sewickley Valley was Rev.
Francis Reno, an Episcopal clergyman, who began his
work as early as 1798. The original name was Re
Nault.

Two brothers, William and Philij) Re Nault, fled
from France to find in the new world a refuge from
religious persecution. They first settled in Virginia.
Rev. Francis Reno, whose name had become in some
way changed from the original, was a descendant of
William Re Nault, and had Indian as well as French
blood in his veins, William Re Nault having married
a young Indian girl.

The names of those wlio subscribed to pay his salary,
either in money or grain, were John Bean, John Way,
John Griffith, William Leet, James Fletcher, William
McGlachlin, Joseph Olver, John Vail, John Stairs, Wil-
liam Larimore, Samuel Thomas Olver, James Hutchin-
son, Hannah Heigns, William Clieny, Patrick Bolden,
Jeremiah Wright, Solomon Vail, David Vail, George
Harris, Samuel English, Benjamin Gunsalas, Josepli
Fisher, John Olver, Huo-h Larimore, John Bales, Sr.,

170 Lights and Shadows of Sewichley Life.

Christian Martin, Jessie Fisher, Samuel Merriman, Fred-
erick Merriman, Samuel Smith, H. Lee, Henry Ulery,
Adam Patterson, and William Sutton.

The place of preaching was in Squire Way's barn,
which stood near the spot where Mr. Walker lives.

Mr. Keno preached until 1810, giving one-third of
his time. It is said that many of his descendants live
in Beaver County ; and we have one of them here in
the person of Mr. Elias Keno, who lives at Edge worth.

ST. James's eoman catholic church.

The few families of the Roman Catholic faith in the
borough and vicinity being anxious for a church home
in the Valley, Father Reed, pastor of Beaver Church,
came to the cottage of Mr. Creighton, on the " Shields's
nursery grounds," once a month, on a week-day, for two
years and held service.

After Mr. Creighton's removal to the old Garrison
property in the borough, service was held there for
another two years.

A lot was bought on Walnut Street in 1860, and j^aid
by the five families who composed the congregation, and
a subscription-list started for a building fund.

Father Reed's field embraced a large territory, now
embracing nine parishes. He travelled on horseback,
was well acquainted, and was very successful in making
converts and gaining the co-o^^eration of other indi-
viduals outside of his own church, and securing their
help. Owing to the failing health of Father Reed, and
finally his death, the church was ministered to by the
German Fathers of St. Mary's, Allegheny ; and then,

ST. JAMES'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

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for about two years, by the Passioiiist Fatliers of tlie
South-side. The first regular pastor was Rev. J. I).
Svvickert, who was assisted by Rev. J. Kunkle. The
next pastor was Rev. Coyne, succeeded by Rev. Kaylor.

Rev. F. F. O'Shea, the present pastor, was born west
of KiUarney, that historic spot in Ireland, near the birth-
place of the famous Daniel O'Connell, in 1863. He
came to the United States of America in 1873 ; was
educated in the public schools of New England, and
afterwards studied rhetoric, philosophy, and theology
under the tutorship of the Franciscan Fathers, who are
affiliated with St. Isidore's, in Rome. He is a devoted,
earnest pastor, and also an earnest advocate and helper
in every effort for the good of the comnumity. The
conoreiration now consists of about five hundred souls.
The first church buildins; w^as a small frame structure.
A brick buildino- succeeded this, but soon after its com-
pletiou the roof fell in, and it had to be rebuilt. The
present building is a large brick edifice, beautifully dec-
orated inside. A large new^ pastoral residence has lately
been built.

The church of St. James has a large flourishing Sab-
bath-school connected with it, also the following societies :
" The Sodality of the Blessed Virgin," the " Catholic
Benevolent Legion," and the " League of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus."

UNITED PEESBYTERIAX CHURCH.

There were in Sewicklev a few families which, before
taking up their abode here, had some of them in Pitts-

174 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

burg the acknowledged centre of the United Presby-
terian body in the " States ;" others away off in Scotland
and Ireland, been members or adherents of the United
Presbyterian Church.

As a longing for the church of their forefathers grew
and strengthened, the question began to be agitated as to
the advisability of making an effort to establish a church
here. A committee waited upon Dr. J. T. Pressly (of
blessed memory), at his home in Allegheny, in the
spring of 1863, consisting of Prof. T. E. Wakeham
and Mr. Robert Dickson, to seek his approval in view
of the proposed undertaking. Prof. Wakeham, now a
resident of the borough, was at that time a resident of
Allegheny, an elder in the Third U. P. Church, and
secretary of the board of church extension, of which Dr.
Pressly was president. He is a well-known educator in
Pittsburg and Allegheny ; Avas for a time Principal of
Sewickley Academy and Sewickley public school.

Dr. Pressly warmly approved of the undertaking, so
a meeting was held at the home of Mr. John Thompson,
at which there were present, Mrs. A. W. Black and
Messrs. William Miller, Alexander McElwain, James
Ellis, John Thompson, Robert Dickson, W. A. Ellis,
and James Park, when resolutions were adopted, a sub-
scrijDtion list started, and six hundred dollars subscribed
towards the fund for a church. A lot was purchased
on Broad Street, and liberal hearts and willing hands
carried the work forward.

Dr. Pressly came and preached, with a view to organ-
izing a congregation, on August 2. The Methodist
brethren kindly offered the use of their church, which

REV. W. A. McKENZIE.

JOHN THOMPSON.

PROF. THOMAS E. WAKEHAM.

ROBERT DICKSON.

ALEXANDER McELWAIN.

JAMES ELLIS.

FRANK McClelland.

WILLIAM MILLER.

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was used by the little band until their own church was
built. On the evening of May 4, 1864, after having
had preaching by supplies every two weeks during the
winter, twenty-two names were enrolled as a nucleus for
the new congregation, Dr. Pressly preaching and con-
ducting the organization.

The new church was dedicated June 12, 1864. Dr.
Pressly, conducting the services, preached the morning
sermon from Psalm cxxvii. 1 ; Dr. J. B. Clark, in the
afternoon, from Psalm cxix. 106, and Rev. Mr. Locke,
of the Methodist Church, closed the interesting services
by a sermon in the evening from the words found in
Luke xiii. 6, 7. All day the house was filled by an
attentive audience.

The elders chosen were James Ellis and William
Watt, men whose lives were a beautiful commentary
on the Gospel they professed. Though long since gone
from the church here to join the blood-bought throng
in the temple not made with hands, they are still held
in loving remembrance in the hearts of many who wor-
ship here, and by others who have providentially been
led into other paths, and in new fields of labor serve the
Lord.

The first break in the little band of worshippers was
caused by the death of Mr. Alexander McElwain soon
after the completion of the church building. Gentle,
loving, and kind, his earnest voice, as we heard it in the
cottage prayer-meetings which were such a comfort and
delight, seems to echo in the walls of memory to-day.

A Sabbath-school was organized Avitli Mr. John
Thompson as Superintendent.

180 Lights and Shadows of SeivicMey Life.

Among the teachers we remember Mrs, McCleery, Miss
McElwain, Mrs. Reed, Miss Black, Miss Thompson,
Messrs. Alexander McElwain, Frank McClelland, James
J. Ellis, and William and James Watt.

Two of the boys from that Sabbath-school are minis-
ters in their own denomination.

Mr. William A. Miller was born in Sewickley in 1865 ;
was educated in Sewickley public school. Western Uni-
versity, and Allegheny U. P. Theological Seminary. He
was married, June, 1893, to Miss Blanche Patterson ; is
now pastor of Stowe congregation, Cleveland Presbytery,
Ohio.

William E. Stewart was born in Beaver County and
educated at Westminster College.

Bev. W. A. McKenzie, the first pastor, was called in
1865. This was his first charge, which he accepted full
of zeal for church work and the principles of the United
Presbyterian Church. He resigned this charge in 1871,
and has since that time been pastor of the church at
Salem, N. Y.

Bev. D. S. Kennedy was the next pastor, called in
1872. He filled the pulpit for six years, and resigned
to accept a call to Somonauk, 111.

W. L. Wallace, D.D., the third pastor, was born in
Pittsburg, August 23, 1834. His preparatory course of
study was received at Cannonsburg, and he graduated
from Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa., in 1857. He
studied theology at the United Presbyterian Seminary of
Allegheny. His first charge was at Newville, Pa. He
entered upon his pastoral duties there in the autumn
of 1861. The following May he was married to Miss

REV. W. L. WALLACE, D.D.

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Elizabetli Riddle, of Allegheny. Dr. Wallace acce2:)ted
the call to the Sewickley Church June, 1879, and was the
dearly loved pastor and friend of his congregation until
continued ill health caused him, July, 1886, to resign.

" He was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of
faith," and his failing health seemed to draw the hearts
of his people more closely to him, so that the tie between
pastor and people was severed with deep, heart-felt regret.
Seeming to rally somewhat, he accepted the position of
President of the College for Freedmen at Noi'folk, Va. ;
but after laboring there two years he was obliged to
relinquish the woi'k, as it was evident that the sound
of the Master's footsteps, as He came to call His faithful
servant, would soon be heard. He died at Asbury Park,
N. J., where he had gone for rest and change, September
9, 1888.

As we remember how earnestly, untiringly, and in
what weakness of body he worked for the Master, these
words suggest tliemselves as particularly apjiropriate, —

■' Go, labor on ; spend and be spent,
Thy joy to do the Father's will :
It is the way the Master went ;

Should not the servant tread it still?"

DR. A. G. WALLACE.

The family of Dr. Wallace took up their abode in
Sewickley in 1884, a valuable addition to the United
Presbyterian Church.

Dr. Wallace is statistical clerk of the General As-
sembly, corresponding secretary of the board of church

186 Lights and Shadows of SewicMey Life.

extension, wliicli aids mission congregations in securing
houses of worship, and he is also a member of the edi-
torial staff of the United Preshyterian. At the request
of Dr. W. L. Wallace, whose health was failing, he sup-
plied the pulpit for six months in 1886; and when, July
1, continued illness caused the 25astor to resign, he was
" acting pastor" for two years, a 2Jastor in the true sense
of the word. To those of his charge who were prevented
by illness from attending upon his ministrations in the
snnctuary, the words, " sick and ye visited me," came
with a new and beautiful significance when associated
with Dr. Wallace.

Rev. A. ]\r. Campbell was called to the Sewickley
U. P. Church in the autumn of 1889, and remained
until the spring of 1892. He is now pastor of a large
and flourishing congregation in Princeton, Ind.

The young people's prayer-meeting which is held
every Sunday-evening before service, and is so help-
ful to both old and young, owes its origin to Mr. Canij}-
bell's zeal.

When, in the providence of God, the pulpit became
vacant during the summer of 1892, the people with one
voice gave a call to Pev. Mason W. Pressly, which he,
recognizing as the voice of God, accepted. It seemed a
fitting tribute to the memory of the venerable founder
of the church, that one of his kindred and name should
take up the work he began, and with the vigor of his
young manhood spend and be spent in the service of Him
who called him to the charge.

There are connected with the church several societies
for mission and other church work. Besides the two

FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THE NEW YOllK
PUBLIC LIBSARY

Agwn li:::m and

T^DS-r: FOUNDATIONS

ELMER E. MILLER.

THE NEW YORK

PU&-LIC LIBRARY

ASrOB, LENOX AND

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

B L

Lights and /Shadows of SeicicJclci/ Life. 191

Bible classes taught by the pastor and Mr. Kobert
Trimble, there is a large, flourishing Sabbath-school,
of which Mr. Elmer E. Miller is the Superintendent.

Mr. Miller was born and brought ujt in Sewickley,
and is well known both here and in Pittsburg as an
architect, and very highly respected in the community
as well as in the church, where he fills the positions of
elder and superintendent, where he has been a life-long
attendant.

The elders have been James Ellis, William Watt,
John Thompson, Thomas McGahan, Alexander Miller,
William McCoy, Francis McClelland, AVilliam Reed,
James McGowan, H. J. Murdock, T. E. Wakeham,
James W. Arrott, Thomas Hare, John Richardson,
Elmer E. Miller, Robert Trimble.

Precious memories cluster around the name of Rev.
David R. Kerr, D.D., whose ministrations among the
people, — where for many years his lot was cast, — both
in the public sanctuary and in the little prayer-meet-
ing, were received with prayerful, loving hearts. Maj-
esty and humility were beautifully blended in his charac-
ter, and the precious words which fell from his lips are
treasured in the hearts of many of the Sewickley people
in all the churches.

BAPTIST CHURCH. .

In the winter of 1873 the members of different Bap-
tist churches in Pittsburg and Allegheny, in view of
the fact that quite a number of families of like faith
were residents of Sewickley, called a meeting, to be held

192 Lights and Shadoivs of SewicMey Life.

in Mozart Hall, to discuss the advisability of making an
organization and having regular services. Fifteen names
were enrolled as " constituent members,"

The firm of " Chamberlin, Thomas, and Boobyer"
gave the use of Mozart Hall, free of cost, for Sunday-
school and church services, and, after having preaching
every Sunday afternoon for three months by city pastors,
a council of pastors and laymen was called, an organiza-
tion effected, and a unanimous call extended to Rev.
John E. Craig, of South Pittsburg.

The council, which was held on May 22, agreed to
recognize the organization as a " regular Baptist church ;"
so a charter was ajDplied for, and on June 8, 1873, Pastor
Craig began his work.

Mozart Hall was used for four years, during which
time there were three pastors ; and when, in 1877, Mr.
Milford, the officiating pastor, received and accepted a
call to New Jersey, this fact, together with the removal
of several of the best families in the congregation, was
quite a drawback ; but for a time service was held every
Sunday afternoon, Dr. McKinney, of the Presbyterian
Church, residing at Edgeworth, usually officiating. At
last, for want of a suitable meeting-place, these services
were given up.

The next effort to brino- together the members was
made in 1888, when it was decided to make a united
effort to establish the church — which was still an or-
ganized body — permanently. Several Baptist families
had removed to Sewickley, so a number of new names
were given in, and for a time preaching by supplies was
held in Odd-Fellows' Hall.

I
o
cc

I
o

I-
c2

CL
<

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOB, LENOX v f)
TILDBN FO!'""-. ' ■• '■
B

Liglih and Shadows of Sewickley Life. 195

Rev. J. M. Scott was cliosen pastor, and it was decided
to erect a place of worship. A lot was purchased at
the corner of Beaver and Grimes Streets, and as the
people contributed liberally towards the fund for the
church building, which was soon under way under the
supervision of Mr. Charles T. Cooper, who gave his time
and labors freely to the work, it was soon completed. It
was dedicated in June, 1889.

Mr. Jacob Boobyer, who may be said to be really the
founder of the church, says :

" Mr. Scott left us in April, 181)1, and for some months
we were depending on supplies, to one of whom, Rev. J.
W. Moody, we extended a unanimous call, which he ac-
cepted, December, 1891, and he has filled the position
very acceptably since. Our growth is slow, but the
people are united, and we are making progress. Our
prayer-meetings are well attended, and we have a good
Sunday-school, under the able supervision of Mr. and
Mrs. Carey. Our industrial and mission work is another
encouraging feature of our church work for the youth
of our church and community.

Deacons. — J. Boobyer, H. H. Schenck, J. F. Carey,
S. A. Chamberlin, R. B. Boobyer.

Trustees. — J. Boobyer, John D. Britton, L. D. Evans,
W. R. Kniss, S. A. Chamberlin.

Secretary. — Charles Kelly.

Treasurer. — Miss Annie Stevenson."

No one has rejoiced more over the success of the new
church than Mrs. Sarah Woodburn, whose time and
labors for the past few years have been given wholly
to church work.

196 Lights and Shadows of SewicJcley Life.

Rev. John W. Moody, pastor of the First Baptist
Church, Sewickley, Pa., was born at Middle E-asen,
Lincolnshire, England, October 6, 1846. He was edu-
cated in an English collegiate institution, preparatory to
Oxford and Cambridge. Deprived of the advantages of
the higher schools because of feeble health, he entered
the profession of journalism early in the teens, and at
sixteen was reporter on the ILidl Daily Express. He
was subsequently editor and assistant editor on several
English papers, including the Preston Chronicle.

When about twenty-three years of age, he came to
this country, and after about a year's residence at Tren-
ton, N. J., he commenced the publication of the fiercer
County Neivs, a weekly paper, which still lives in the
city named, and in which he still has a controlling
interest. While engaged in this occupation, he com-
menced the study of theology ; the ultimate result being
that he was ordained to the ministry in the Baptist
denomination, and left the business interest in charge
of his brother, Elliott G. Moody, who for many years
has edited the paper. He was first called to the pas-
torate of a small church at Junction, N. J. Two years'
labor increased the membership of the church threefold,
and during that time another church was organized at
Washington, N. J., the result of mission work. From
thence he removed to Athens, N. Y., where five years
of service produced like good results. From thence he
came to Western Pennsylvania, being pastor of the First
Ba^^tist Church at Monongahela, Pa. Here he estab-
lished the Baptist Exponent, a denominational paper in
the interest of his denomination. This church he left

REV. JOHN W. MOODY.

THS NEW YORK

PUErLIC LIBRARY

ASTOB, LENOX AND

TILDiSN FOUNDATIONS

B L

JACOB BOOBYER, JR.

THE NSW YORK

PU&Lic libba:

ASTOB, LENOX. AND
TILPBN FOUNDATI'rf-'S

Lights and Shadows of Sewicklci/ Life. 201

to devote liis wliole time to the paper, it liaving in the
meantime heen removed to Pittsbnrg. While supplying
the Sewickley Church temporarily, he was called to the
pastorate, and commenced his pastoral relation January
1, 1892. Since then he has resigned his editorial posi-
tion, and now, in conjunction with his duties as pastor of
the church, he is engaged in publishing 27ie Scwickleyan,
a local paper devoted to the social and home interests of
the comnuinity.

During the pastorate so far about thirty members have
been added to the church, and the financial conditions
have considerably improved.

COLORED CHURCHES.

There are three congregations of the colored race in
Sewickley.

The fii-st is the A. M. E. Zion Church, on Thorn Street.
The church and parsonage occupy the ground presented
to the congregation by the late Theodore H. Nevin. The
pastor. Rev. George W. Lewis, was boi'u a slave in West
Virginia, September 25, 1849. When six years old his
mother was sold from him, and he has neither seen nor
heard of her since. When about ten years of age he
was sold to a master in Marvland, with whom he re-
mained until durino- the War of the Rebellion ; in 1863
he left his ''so-called master" and went to the Union
army. Being rejected as a soldier on account of his
youth, he hired himself to Captain Whitney, and re-
mained with him until the close of the war, witnessing
many battles. Saying " good-by" to the captain at Bal-
timore in December, 1805, and being without home or

202 Lights and Shadows of Sewichley Life.

friends, lie went to Bedford, Pa., where he worked and
educated himself to the best of his ability.

In 1880, Hon. Job Mann sent him to Howard Uni-
versity, Washington, D.C., where he spent five years
preparing for the ministry. After graduating in 1886,
he took charge of the A. M. E. Zion Church at Mt.
Pleasant, and at the end of three years was called to
Uniontown, Pa.

He has been in Sewickley two years, and is a highly-
respected and successful j^astor, an earnest Sunday-school
worker, and advocate of the temperance cause. Mr. J.
Ward is the Sunday-school superintendent.

George W. Marlatt, who was connected with this church
for years, and died March, 1893, deserves special men-
tion. He was born a slave in Berkeley County, AV. Va.,
November 23, 1831. He came to Sewickley in 1864,
and was in the employ of Mr. B. H. Davis at Osburn.
At his request. Miss Bebecca Davis (now Mrs. Dr. Wil-
lard) and her brother, Mr. Swift, taught him to read.
Bev. Samuel M. Mackey, of Simpson Chapel, Allegheny,
who spent several years on the Davis farm and saw much
of this man, says he was one of the most honest, upright,
conscientious persons he ever knew. The constant cry of
his heart was, " Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel ;"
and night after night he spent hours in earnest, pleading-
prayer to the God whom he longed to serve.

Mr. Mackey says " his native eloquence in prayer was
something wonderful ;" and he feels sure that if this
brother had commenced earlier in life as an exhorter,
even with the lack of an education, his God-given wisdom
would have placed him in the front ranks of the min-

Liylits and Shadows of Sewickley Life. 203

istry ill liis own church. He was a happy man when he
coiikl read God's word, and at last " satisfied his con-
science" by obtaining a license to preach, and as oppor-
tunity offered officiated among his people.

Rev. J. M. Morris is the pastor of St. John's A. M.
E. Church, on Elizabeth Street, which was dedicated
August 3, 1884. He was born in Ohio, educated at the
Lutheran College at Springfield, and the Western Theo-
logical Seminary in Allegheny. Mr. Morris is a very
intelligent and well-educated man, a great thinker, and
fluent speaker. The Sunday-school is superintended by
Mrs. Jane Johnston.

Mr. Morris has filled many important charges at Oil
City, Pa., Wylie Avenue, and East End, Pittsburg, and
other places.

Rev. J. W. Kirk, pastor of the " Antioch Free-will
Baptist" Church, on Fife Street.

The first ])astor was Rev. C. W. Frazier, a missionary
of the Western Pennsylvania Association of African
Free-will Baptists, who in 1891 organized the church.

Mr. Kirk has been pastor two years. He was born
in Northrop, Va., February 14, 1855, and was educated
at Storer College, at Harper's Ferry.

We now have eight churches in all, including Meth-
odist, Presbyterian, United Presbyterian, Episcopal,
Catholic, and Baptist. The Methodist Church, on
Broad Street, the Presbyterian, on Beaver Street, and
the Catholic, on Walnut Street, are the only ones that
have bells to rino- for service. The one in the tower of
the Presbyterian Church rings thirty, fifteen, and five
minutes before each service. The five-minute bell is

204 Lights and Shadows of SewicMey Life.

always tolled, and many persons ask why it is rung in
this way. The explanation is this. Soon after Mr.
John Fleming's death, the family presented the bell
for the new church, as a memorial to Mr. Fleming, and
the third bell is always tolled as a tribute to his memory.
It bears the following inscription : Presented to the
Presbyterian Church of Sewickley, in memory of John
Fleming, MDCCCLXX, ''Vivos Voco Mortuos Plangor

PHYSICIANS.

Four physicians are associated in our minds with
almost everything that concerns the early history of Se-
wickley,— Dr. John Dickson, Dr. William Woods, Dr.
Ellis W. Worthington, and Dr. Alexander Black.

Dr. John Dickson (one of the three brothers so long
and widely known as among the leading physicians in
the country) was born in Cecil County, Maryland, April
24, 1812. He was of Scotch descent. The history of his
family was connected with the records of the State for
many generations. His father removed to Clinton in
1821. At the age of sixteen he taught in the public
school, at the same time carrying on his studies, walking
to Cannonsburg every Friday evening to recite. Dr.
Matthew Brown said of him, recognizing his ability,
" There goes the most promising young man I know ; if
he lives, he will make a great name for himself." He
began the practice of medicine in 1831, in Sewickley.
His office was on Beaver Street, almost on the spot now
occupied by the Baptist Church. He was a member of
the Presbyterian Church, and of the building committee
for the first church. In 1843 he removed to Allegheny.

JOHN DICKSON, M.D.

THE NEW vovfk

PUBLIC- LI

^.STo^~. Lffir'ex and

3N3

Lights and Shadows of Seicickley Life. 207

When travelling through Europe, inspecting hospitals
and medical schools, he found the cholera raging in Home,
and devoted his services to the sufferers. During the
civil war, he gave himself to his country whenever prac-
ticable, and went with the volunteer medical corps to the
bloody fields of Chickahominy and Shiloh.

For more than thirty years before his death he resided
at Edge worth, going to the city every day to attend his
large practice. His duties in the city did not prevent his
being ready at all times, night or day, to visit the sick in
Sevvickley and the surrounding country, in consultation
with other doctors, where his kind, benevolent face seemed
always to bring hope and comfort. There were few better
botanists than he. To quote the words of another, " He
nodded to the four thousand j^lants within our floral region
as to familiar friends, and called them by their names as
he would the members of his family."

Dr. William Woods, for many years an elder in the
Presbyterian Church, loved and honored, (the mention of
wliose name recalls some of the most precious and yet
saddest memories of our lives,) was a kind neighbor and
friend as well as physician. His quiet, composed, gentle
manner, as he strove to prepare us for a possible bereave-
ment in store for us, and his own firm faith and trust in
a wise, unerring Pi'ovidence, helped to stay the uprising
of rebellious thoughts, as we prayed for strength to say,
" Thy will be done." He was born in Allegheny County,
in 1804, was the son of a minister of Scotch descent. He
located in Pittsburg when he commenced to practise, and
distino'uished himself for his self-sacrificinix devotion to
the suffering multitude during the cholera epidemic in

208 Lights and Shadows of Sewichley Life.

1832. He came to Sevvickley about 1843, where he spent
almost the remainder of his life.

Dr. Ellis W. Worthington, a licensed Methodist
preacher on the circuit including New Brighton and
Blackburn, for a number of years studied under Dr.
Dickson, and decided to make the practice of medicine
his life-work. When Dr. Dickson removed to Allegheny
in 1843, Dr. Worthington took his office on Beaver Street.
In the midst of his busy life as a physician, he was always
ready to fill the pulpit in case of an emergency, and was
largely in demand to officiate at weddings and funerals.
He went to his reward many years ago, and is less clearly
remembered than the others.

Dr. Alexander Black, who for many years was a
resident of our borough, was a son of Bev. John Black,
of Pittsburg, and a brother of Eev. Andrew and Colonel
Samuel Black, all of whom have passed away. His
son, Samuel W. Black, resides at Edgeworth. Dr.
Black was a thoroughly educated man, having finished
his medical studies in Edinburgh, Scotland. Having
studied both schools, he practised the allopathic and
homoeopathic systems, and was a very successful physi-
cian.

■r \

W^^"

CHAPTER III.

N those early days we knew every one by name,
and a stranger on our quiet streets was quite
an event.

I remember, when I was a chikl, a neighbor,
who often dropped in, and who was, in her way, a wonder
for knowing wlio everybody was, where they came from,
and what was their business, came into the house, one day,
and said, " I saw a strange woman go down the road ; I
wonder who she was ?" No one coukl tell her ; and the
conversation drifted to otlier things, wlien again and again
she said, " I do wonder who that woman was ?"

Were she an inhabitant of our thriving town now, she
would find herself in just such a quandary very often.

Our village at that time did not boast of a post-office.
A mile and a half below the village, a wealthy gentleman,
in a room of his line residence (which, after the lapse of
so many years, stands, in its slightly remodelled condi-
tion, a comparison with modern dwellings) had a post-
office for the accommodation of his friends and the
surrounding neighborhood. In this way we received the
letters that came in the days before the cheap postal
system was introduced, like " angels' visits, few and far
between." The few persons who went to tlie post-office
during the day brought the mail for the neighbors.

Mr. Way tells in regard to the early days, of a letter

209

210 Lights and Shadows of SevncMey Life.

from Thomas McKeaii, of Philadelphia, sent August 19,
1809, to John Way, Esq., township of Ohio, Allegheny
County, received September 25.

A letter dated Germantown, Pa., February 12, 1812,
John Way, Esq., Ohio Township, Allegheny County,
12 miles from Pittsburg. Postage, 20 cents.

In 1816, there was a weekly mail between Pittsburg
and Beaver, and in 1825 Mr. Shields opened the post-
office mentioned above.

At that time a paper was published, called The
American Courier, in which was published weekly in-
stalments of a story called " Linda Walton ; or, the Pilot
of the Belle Creole," by Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz. Like
a dream, I remember how anxiously this paper was
looked for, and how a little company eagerly gathered
around while one of the crowd read aloud the thrilling
story. AVhat a proud people we were when we had a post-
office of our own, kept in a corner of a grocery store by
a teacher of the old Academy. Mr. John Way (now
of New Lisbon, Ohio) was appointed postmaster in 1851,
and we thought we were highly favored to receive one
mail a day ; while now it requires a number of persons
to distribute the huge budget of mail matter that comes
to us eight times a day. When Mr. Way was quite
young, in 1840, he walked from his home at Edgeworth
to Pittsburg to attend the Harrison Convention, a dis-
tance of sixteen miles, by the Beaver Eoad, winding
around the " narrows." Finding there was no boat run-
ning next day to bring him home, he walked back.

We owe the first daily newspaper delivery to Mr. Way.
In 1846, when he was at the Academy, he and Mr.

JOHN WAY, SR.

THE NEW YORK

PU&LIC LIBRARY

ASTOK.

TTLr
R

; i

Lu/lds and Shadows of Scwichley Life. 213

David Shields, of Leetsdale, each received a copy of the
Daily Chronicle by mail, the only daily paper that caine
to the Valley. In 1855, he engaged a boy, and had the
Evening Chronicle delivered throughout the village to
quite a number of people ; many of whom remember
this venture very gratefully. There is now a daily sale
of the several morning and evening papers of about six-
teen hundred copies, besides a very large sale of weekly
papers. The news-stand at the station is quite an ac-
quisition to the place ; all the leading periodicals and
magazines can be procured there.

Theodore W. Nevin, editor of the Pittsburg Leader^
was born at Edgeworth, July 24, 1854, and has spent
all his life in the Valley. He is a son of the late Rev.
D. E. Nevin, the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church
of this place. He was educated at Sewickley Academy
and Western University.

In 1873, he entered the Leader ofiice as a printer's
apprentice, and in 1875, while still at work in the
Leader office, commenced to study law. In 1876, he
went to Europe to study German and pursue his law
studies, but upon his return in 1877 he gave up the
study of law, and again entered the Leader office
as reporter. In 1881-82, he was Washington corre-
spondent of the Leader; in 1882, telegraphic editor
and associate managing editor. Upon the death of
his brother Wilfred in 1887, he was elected President
of the Leader Publishing Company.

In November, 1890, Mr. Nevin was married to Miss
Bessie Appel, daughter of Rev. Theodore Appel, D.D.,
of Lancaster, Pu. They reside on Walnut Street.

214 Lights and Shadows of SewicMey Life.

Mr. Joseph Nevin, brother of Theodore W. Nevin,
entered the Leader office as travelling agent in 1878, and
in 1884 became business manager, which position he
holds at the present time, attending to the duties of the
position " in a signally efficient and progressive manner."
Previous to his connection with the Leader, he was in
the white lead business. Mr. Nevin married Miss Sarah
Cunningham. They reside on Walnut Street near Thorn.

Miss Addie Nevin, sister of Theodore and Joseph
Nevin, entered the Leader office in 1881, and after sev-
eral years' experience became Society Editress, which
position she still very ably fills. Miss Nevin wrote the
'' Social Mirror," " a comprehensive and brilliant his-
torical work on the society j^eople of Pittsburg and
Allegheny." The book met with marked appreciation
by the public. Miss Nevin resides witli her mother at
the old homestead at Edgeworth.

The house in which the first post-office was kept was
the thirty-first house built in Sewickley. It stands near
the corner of Beaver and Walnut Streets.

At the end of the house, by the side of a run, stood a
large sycamore tree, under whose friendly shade many
a happy hour was spent in play by the children of the
neighborhood. Returning, after some years of absence,
and naturally looking for all the old favored haunts, we
looked in vain for the old sycamore tree. Nothing was
left but the stumjj). Gazing with sorrowful feelings at the
ruin and recalling many scenes of by-gone days, it was
a matter of regret that, of all the old playmates, now
scattered here and there, not one had been near to say to
the ruthless destrover :

D. L. S. NEELY.

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

AOTCa, l^-'-X AND

TILDSN i uL ; . J.\r\lii-I3

2 L

Lights and Shadows of Sewickky Life. 217

'• Woodman, spare that tree,
Touch not a single bough !
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now."

Our present postmaster, Mr. D. Leet S. Neely, was
born at the family homestead at Leetsdale, in 1852.
He was educated in the pubhc schools ot" the Valley
and the Sewickley Academy.

His father, Mr. AVilliam Neely, is still living at Leets-
dale, and has many memories of the "olden time," as he
was quite a young man when he took u]) his abode on
the Shields's estate, where he still lives. Mr. Neelv was
married in 1872 to Miss Harriet Kniss.

What an event the building of a new house used to be.
How the neighbors rejoiced at its completion ; and it often
happened that two or three teams were sent, with many
helping hands, to remove the household goods. We never
thought of insulting the owners of said teams by offering
money for the use of what was freely offered.

A relative of mine had just moved into a new, com-
fortable dwelling, and the doors were thrown cordially
open to friends and neighbors for a regular house-warm-
ing. Quite a number of persons from the nearest city
came to join in the mei'ry-making. There were games
for those who objected to dancing, by which you will infer
that we did dance. Well, yes; we did! And in the
square and French fours and Virginia reels in which our
merry feet kept time to the music of the violin, I fancy
we were quite as harmlessly employed as those who now
take part in the gymnastic exercises so necessary as a
source of physical training.

218 Lights and Shadoics of Seiohkley Life.

I heard two old friends talking the other day about old
times. One of them had been a farmer's daughter, and her
father's farm had been a very fine one ; and in addition
to the apple and peach orchards, and rows of fine cherry
trees, there was an abundance of blackberries in the fields.
During: the conversation, the one who had been a resident
of the village said to her friend : " I remember, one day,
that Lizzie and I went berrying, and, after we had filled
our buckets and were ready to come home, your sister
came to call us to dinner. She had killed chicken and
baked biscuit while we were picking berries." Her
friend replied, " You don't know how glad we always
were to see any of you come for cherries or berries ; the
company far more than repaid us for the trouble of get-
tins; dinner."

Some of the finest apple orchards you ever saw were
to be found in our neighborhood. What times we boys
and girls had gathering apples, and how we enjoyed see-
ing the rich juice as it was squeezed through an immense
press, kept in the orchard of the village inn, and help-
ing to pare the apples and stir the immense kettles of
apple-butter which every family annually made. There
were no apple-parers in those days, and the work of pre-
paring the apples was no small matter.

During the winter evenings we were allowed, on con-
dition of returning at an early hour, to exchange visits
with our young friends, when we cracked nuts, ate ap-
ples, and told wonderful stories.

I remember a pretty, black-eyed girl who took part
in those narratives. She had one frightful story of a
traveller who disappeared in a very mysterious manner in

Lights and Shadorrs of SewicHey Life. 219

an inn ; and one night, just before separating, she said
in earnest tones, when asked for lier liair-raising story,
" I would tell it to you, but I'd be afraid to go home."
We besieged her until she did tell it again, and then
we raised a little company and took her home.

In these days of quick travel and transportation, you
can hardly imagine what our town was like in tlie days of
long ago. Droves of cattle, sheep, and liorses passed up
our main streets, and, would you believe it, sometimes a
drove of turkeys being taken in that way from one city
to another. A drove of turkeys en route for Pittsburg
from the West arrived at Edgeworth, one evening, just at
dusk, and, tliinking it was time to retire for the night, all
betook themselves to the friendly shelter of some trees
just across the lane from Edgeworth Seminary. No efforts
of the drivers could dislodge them ; and they, too, were
oblio'ed to seek shelter for the nio;ht under the roof of
the kind-hearted family owning the grounds, and the
next morning proceeded on their way to the city.

Speaking of turkeys reminds me of a true story about
a boy who lived on a farm about a mile back of the town.
The father and mother of the hopeful youth were regular
church-goers; and one morning, just as they were starting
for church, a lot of turkeys, of which the housewife was
very proud, were making for a field of vegetables, and
the father called out to the boy to drive them away, say-
ing, "Tommy, take the heads off them turkeys!" then
joining his partner, they wended their way to church,
hoping Tommy would watch the turkeys.

Imagine their consternation when, on returning, they
found he had literally taken off every turkey's head but

220 Lights and Shadows of Seivickley Life.

one. At midnight the good people commenced their
Monday's work and prepared the whole flock for market ;
then, as soon as the work was done, they took a journey
of fourteen miles in a wagon to market. This fond
mother's ambition was to see her son a minister, but, as
he left our town in his boyhood, we cannot say whether
he kept on literally obeying his parents or not.

The road out past Tommy's home, which is now a
favorite drive in summer, was at that time the route often
taken by sleighing-i^arties. A great wagon-bed was filled
with straw and placed on an immense sled, and into it
were packed from twelve to twenty boys and girls, and
away we went, shouting and laughing, and sometimes
singing a merry song, unmindful of oft-repeated orders to
keep our mouths shut in the frosty air. In those days of
old-fashioned winters, we had a great deal of snow, and
l^lenty of fine coasting down hill on the outskirts of the
town ; the long pull up hill being far more than repaid
by the ride down. I remember that one winter those
who had a distance to come to church, who had sleighs
or the aforementioned sleds, had the pleasure of using
them thirteen Sundays in succession, and during a pro-
tracted meeting in the Methodist Church the people came
from miles out in the country every night.

The first school in the village was in a small log-house
which stood not far from the spring on the Watson prop-
erty. It had one window, a small opening between the
logs, in which oiled paper did duty instead of glass.
The teacher was Mr. Scott.

The next teacher, who was the first to occupy the old
log church as a school-house, was Mr. Kobert McAuley,

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who married Miss Mary ^Miteliell, a sister of Mrs, Wil-
liam Miller, of Lincoln Avenne. Mr. Mitchell was one
of the early settlers in Ohio Township, coming here about
1813, and is well remembered by many of the old resi-
dents.

The second school-house used in the place was an old
log-house, the one mentioned as being used for church
service by the different denominations before there was
a church in the place. There are very few persons left
in the village who remember anything about going to
school there.

Among those who received the first rudiments of their
education in the old school-house was Milton Bj-ownins:
Goff, son of Pliilo and Prudence GofP, who were two of
the first members of the Methodist Church in Sevvickley.

Mrs. Johnston (Mary Goff) now lives in the old home-
stead, the only member of the famil}^ in Sewickley. The
old school-house, where her brother Milton first went to
school, was just across the street from this old liome.
Sewickley may well be proud of this one of her sons.

We o'lean the followin"- facts from the Western Univer-
sity Courant :

" Milton Brownino; Goff was born in Pittsburo- De-
cember 17, 1881. Up to twelve years of age he re-
mained in Sewickley, attending the public school and
Rev. J. S. Travelli's Academy. He then learned the
trade of 2:)rinter, and worked as compositor on the Com-
mercial Gazette. He was noted for his swiftness in type-
settino- and his knowled2;e of the art at which he was
working. He worked at his trade until 1851, when he
entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, from which he

224 Lights and Shadows of SewicMey Life.

graduated in 1855, taking the degree of A. B. In the
same year he was elected to the chair of Mathematics and
Natural Science at Madison College, Uniontown, and re-
tained his position for two years. On January 1, 1865,
he was elected to the chair of Mathematics at the Western
University, which position he held for seventeen years,
being Chancellor pro tern, in 1881. In 1882 he was
given the Professorshi}) of Mathematics and Astronomy
at Allegheny College, which position he retained until
called to the Chancellorship of the Western University
in 1884, a position he held until his death.

" Professor Goff was one of the most promising mathe-
maticians in the country. He was the author of seven
text-books on arithmetic, the latest of which apj)eared
about a year before his death. He also wrote numerous
papers and treatises on astronomy and kindred subjects
for the periodicals. In 1858 he received from his Alma
Mater the degree of Master of Arts, in 1881 the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy, and in 1884 the degree of
Doctor of Laws."

Judge White paid him the following tribute : " I knew
Professor Goff intimately for almost thirty years. We
were members and official members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, Sewickley, most of the time. No man
was ever more prompt and faithful in the performance of
his duty. I have seen him under trying circumstances,
but never saw the first risings of anger or passion. He
was always calm, quiet, and self-j)Ossessed, with a gentle
smile on his countenance. This was not the result of
weakness or a cowardly spirit. He was a strong, brave
man, with great intellectual strength that kept the pas-

HON. JAMES M. LOUGHRIDGE.

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sions in complete subjection. Dr. Goff was never found
on the wrong side of any question. All his instincts and
impulses were in the right direction. He never acted
hastily, or never expressed an opinion without reflection.
Quick in intellect, he always took time to think and
deliberate l)efore expressing an opinion, and when he
made up his mind, the question was finally settled as far
as he Avas concerned. In all the relations of life, — as
husband and father, as citizen and church-member, as
neighbor and friend, — I never knew one that surpassed
Dr. Goff."

The school-house j-emembered by many of the men
and w^omen as the 2)lace where the foundation for their
education was laid, among whom are Mr. J. McElwain,
Mr. J. J. Ellis, Mr. Samuel Little, Mr. G. F. Muller,
Mr. S. C. Rinehart, and Kev. J. Q. A. Fullerton, is the
old brick building at the corner of Lincoln and Centen-
nial Avenues.

One of the most successful teachers, whose long term
of faithful service left its impress on the minds of many
now scattered far and near, was Mr. James M. Lough-
ridge, whose wife and sister, Miss Maggie Loughridge,
(now Mrs. Aiken, of New Castle,) assisted him.

Some of the best mathematicians of the borouodi were
pupils in that old school-house ; some of Mr. Lough-
ridge's pupils having completed Ray's higher arithmetic
at the age of ten years. He removed with his wife and
two daughters, Rebecca and Carrie, to Oskaloosa, Iowa,
many years ago.

Carrie Loughridge, now Mrs. Bennett, of Oskaloosa,
is the only one left of the family we knew and loved.

228 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

Mr. Lougbridge died April 20, 1893, aged seventy-
two years. After his removal to Iowa, he filled the
positions of teacher, county superintendent, mayor of
the city, and justice of the peace. His last years were
spent in the insurance and real estate business.

Many of them have gone abroad to fill places of honor
and trust in the world, and still others, whose lives have
seemed one long day of toil and trial, have filled the
places of those of whom it is said, " They also serve who
only stand and wait."

As the years passed on, younger boys and girls took
the places of those who had left, to whom the old school-
house became very dear. What wonderful exhibitions
these scholars used to get up, when the school-house
would be crowded to the door, the youthful performers
arrayed in most wonderful costume. Just before my
mind's eye there comes the picture of a youth, one of the
best managers and most active in getting up these enter-
tainments, as he appeared in a dialogue, crowned with a
wonderful wig, as he personated, to the life, the character
of a fine-looking old gentleman.

I remember nothing of that dialogue but this charac-
ter— the wiff, 2)erhaps, being such a w^onder in its way,
helps to account for this. School-days have vanished,
the youth has grown to manhood, and I wonder if, when
he leaves the sanctum where his editorial notes are penned
for a fashionable city paper and returns to wife and chil-
dren in his rural home, he ever tells them of the jolly
times "we scholars" used to have in the old school-
house.

Another of these youthful performers, a bor7i artist.

C. S. RINEHART.

G. F. MULLER.

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Lights and Shadoivs of Sewicldey Life. 231

who bad a penchant for " making his mark" at a very
early day as an artist, — as school-books as well as doors
and window-sills at home could testify, — has, by his apt
illustrations in New York and other papers, helped to
educate and dispel the blues from the minds of his old
school-mates. Wliile his fame has become world-wide,
and many persons at home and abroad have been proud
to do him honor, nowhere did he and his work receive
a warmer welcome than during the reception accorded
him in Carnegie Art Gallery, where he exhibited some
two hundred of his original beautiful drawings of life
and character in many parts of the world he has
visited — England, France, Spain, Germany, and his own
country ; the reproduction of which in the pages of prom-
inent magazines and art publications has aftbrded a rich
treat to lovers of the beautiful throughout the world.
Here also was to be seen his magnificent life-size paint-
ins:, " Washed ashore," which has been accorded so much
praise and honor, both here and abroad, and which places
him unquestionably high in the niche of Fame.

A number of concerts to raise a fund for the organ for
the new Presbyterian Church (which has done duty al)0ut
thirty years) were given under the leadership of Mr. K.
P. Nevin, by the really fine talent possessed by many of
our people, affording a real treat to those who rarely
visited the city or attended a public performance of any
kind. Among those taking part in those concerts were
Mr. John Irwin, Jr., Miss Black, Miss Critchlow, Miss
Kitchie, Miss Eliza Shields, Miss Mattie Nevin, Profes-
sor John Way, John Way, Jr., Andrew Ellis, James
Miller, John I. Travelli, John I. Nevin. A concert

232 Lights and Shadoivs of Sewichley Life.

was also given by the children under the management
of Professor Cornelius, who had singing classes for both
old and young.

A song called " The Indian Hunter" was sung by
Charles Stanley Rinehart ; another, called " Uncle Sam's
Farm," by Harry S. Black, and the closing song, a duet,
entitled " Good-night and joy surround you," by Tillie
McLauo-hlin and James J. Ellis. Miss Tillie used her
fine voice for years as leading soprano in the choir of
the Presbyterian Church of this place. She is now Mrs.
Kirk, of Cannonsburg, Pa.

Laura Einehart, a little dark-eyed, curly-haired girl,
who was a leading singer among the little ones, is now
the wife of a far-famed organist; and her own rich, culti-
vated voice has again and again delighted large cultured
audiences. The quiet, composed, perfectly self-possessed
manner with which she sang to the large crowd of friends
and relatives the song, —

"What fairj'-like music
Steals over the sea,"

which, after all these years, I seem to hear her sweet voice
still carrolling through the little old church, was pro-
phetic of the ease and power with which she has often-
times since sans; to crowded houses in the different halls
and churches of Pittsburg and vicinity. During the
summer, while with the family enjoying the lake breezes
at a summer resort, she sings for the jDleasure of friends
at the hotel, and many times by request in the church.
Realizing that her wonderful voice is a God-given talent,
she uses it in His service.

WILLIAM S. DICKSON.

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Lights and /Shadows of Sew'icklcy Life. 235

Mrs. Gazzain's private school on Tliorn Street is re-
membered with pleasure by many j^ersons.

I think one of the old pupils voiced the sentiment of
all who remember that as their first school when she
said, lately, " Everybody loved Mrs. Gazzam." I re-
member as some of her pupils, Hannah Nevin, Lidie
Nevin, Mary and Susie Hopkins, Mary Woods, Laura
Rinehart, Annie Jones, Milly Shields, Birdie Dickson,
Eliza Travelli, and Mary Travelli. While her school-
work endeared her to the hearts of her pupils, she is re-
membered by many others as engaged in every good work.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The public library owes its origin to the enterprise of
Mr. William Dickson, who, realizing the need of such an
institution, agitated the question, until in 1873 a read-
ing-room and library were opened, which supplied a long-
felt want of the people.

Aside from the membership fee of five dollars yearly,
public entertainments netted a sum that added materially
to its support.

After being removed from one room to another, it was
removed in 1880 to the public school-house, where the
books were distributed free of charge to any inhabitant
of the borough.

The reading-room has been discontinued, but it is
hoped that when the new school-house, now in course of
erection, is completed, this feature will be renewed.

The first officers were :

President, — John Way, Jr.

Vice-President. — Wil liam Dickson .

236 Lights and Shadows of SeivicJdey Life.

Secretary. — E. R. Kramer.

Treasurer. — John Thomas.

Mr. Wm. Dickson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and
came to Sewickley in his childhood, where he has since
lived. He was married in 1871 to Miss Agnes M. Mil-
ler, dauditer of Mr. William Miller. She died about a
year ago. Mr. Dickson has been a successful contractor.

Our old school-houses have been replaced by new ones ;
our old churches have given w^ay to new and costly struc-
tures; our once dark and muddy streets are paved and
brilliant with electric lights ; many improvements have
been made for the pleasure and comfort of the people,
and vet there are those in our midst who think " the
former times were better than these," and long and sigh,
alas! in vain, for their return. The following words
find an echo in the hearts of such :

"Afar o'er the hill-top the da_y, robed in splendor,

Comes forth like a queen from the realms of the sun ;
And the valleys uplift the white veil of their slumber

To welcome the dawn of a day just begun.
The dew-spangled lawn and the glittering forest

Drop gems at my feet and o'er-jewel my head ;
But I long for the freshness and joy of the mornings

That came with the beautiful days that are dead.

"The sweet vanished days that went out with the sunset

Shall find me alone in the land of my dreams
With the friends and the songs and the flushes of gladness,

And your skies mirrored fair on the silvery streams.
Shall the heart never mourn for a song that is silent,

When the sweetest of harmonies o'er it are shed ;
Shall the dark buried past find no bright resurrection,

Shall eternity bring back the days that are dead?"

HOMER JAY ROSE, A.M.

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Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life. 239

The substantial scliool-liouse that had served for so
many years on Thorn Street was destroyed by fire,
February, 1893, and a new buikling, which will be
one of the finest in tlie country, is in course of erec-
tion on the beautiful lot where the other school-house
stood. The lot is bounded on three sides by three of
the principal streets, — Broad, Thorn, and Chestnut, —
and will be quite an ornament to the town.

The Principal, Professor Homer Jay Kose, A.M., -was
born in Pine Township, Mercer County, Pa., October
29, 1856. He received his first education in the district
schools, was a student of Pine Grove Academy, and a
graduate of Edinborough State Normal School.

After teaching several terms in the country districts
and five years in Grove City College, he became Princi-
|)al of the public school at Parker's Landing, serving
three years ; w^as two years Principal of the Emlenton
schools, and the last four years has been at the head of
our Sewickley schools.

Professor Pose is noted for sterling honesty and up-
rightness of character, and is a faithful, earnest, and,
above all, Christian w^orker. He was married in 1880
to Miss Margaret J. Shaw. Their residence is on Cen-
tennial Avenue.

CHAPTER IV.

HEN Sewickley was laid out, Division Street,
(then called Graveyard Lane,) which divided
the two farms which included all that is known
as Sewickley Borough, was one of the princi-
pal streets. It extended from the grounds now known
as Fleming's grove to the grounds owned by Mr. Osburu,
on Bank Street.

At the lowest termination of this street, a plot of
ground was given to be a free graveyard for the town.
There was very little rambling about on Sunday in
those early times, but we often on Sunday summer after-
noons went to that old graveyard, sometimes reading
our Sunday-school books under the shade of the old
trees, and never failing to read all the inscriptions on the
old tombstones, on which were many Scripture verses.
It was a beautiful spot, with its lovely evergreen trees,
and there is associated with its memories nothing of dread
or fear; but the place seems even now to be hallowed
ground. The other burial-sjiot was just back of the old
Presbyterian Church, not used in such early times as the
other, and yet many precious ones were laid to rest there.
In 1860, a site was chosen for a cemetery, to which after

240

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a time the silent inliabitaiits of the two graveyards were
removed, November 1, 18G(), was the day ap})oiiited
for the dedication of tlie cemetery. It was a lovely,
bright day, although so late in the season. A plat-
form had been erected and seats prepared for the large
company that had assembled. The exercises were com-
menced by a short prayer by Rev. J. S. Travelli. A
hymn was sung, and an address delivered by Rev.
Henry Baker, of the Methodist Church. After this
address, a hymn was sung, composed, music and words,
by our talented townsman, Mr. R. P. Nevin, whose
music and speeches had helped to inspire the leaders
in many a political campaign. Ah ! how many of the
young men whose voices united with his in the mem-
orable Fremont song are now silently sleeping in that
city of the dead, and yet they are forever young, tuning
their voices in nobler strains. A dedicatory j)rayer, by
Rev. James Allison, and the benediction, by Rev. John
White, closed the exercises.

DEDIGATOEY HYMN.

BY ROBERT P. NEVIN, ESQ.

As pilgrims on the barren waste
Of drearj^ desert, sands astraj^

With anxious heed and earnest quest
Anticipate the doubtful way,

And, time!}', with the night in view,
Seelc ere the day leans to its close —

Thoughtful of ease through toils yet due-
Choice stead for shelter and i-epose ;

244 Lights and Shadows of Sewiehley Life.

Here, followers through a wilderness

Of paths uncertain and remote,
While we a kindred aim confess,

A kindred care. Lord, we devote ;
To meet the need that lies beyond,

And harbor seek to shield us best,
When life's last task of service owned,

We' scather to our final rest.

Thanks to Thy name, Almighty One !

For the sure promise Thou dost deign,
That the deej) slumbers thus begun,

Shall, waiting cease, not wait in vain ;
Tiiat darkness, silence, and the jjause

Of still oblivion shall have end,
And fair above the nio-ht's stern awes

The dawn of a new morn ascend.

Sleep — only sleep : no ruder doom ;

JSTo vital wrest with wrest of breath ;
No bane, suppressless, to consume,

JSTor death — as doubters dream of death !
Sleep — only sleep ; shut for a space

From the world's troublous sphere of strife,
To wake, regenerate, heirs through grace,

Of resurrection and of life !

Thus with the rapturous faith at heart

That challenges distrust and fear.
Stayed by the pledge Thy words impart.

Lord, we approach Thy presence here!
Own Thou our mission, hear our plea,

That this our chosen camp of rest.
Protected by Thy watch may be,

And by Thy generous favor blest !

ROBERT P. NEVIN.

THE NEW YORK f

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Lights and Shadoics of SewicJdey Life. 247

Forever be these shelters sure,

Warded from peril and from hai'iu.
These sylvan solitudes secure

From rude obtrusion and alarm ;
Forever hallowed, nor profaned,

And, by our rite devoutly paid,
Be thou the warrant! hence ordained

Forever sacred to the dead !

Mr. Neviii is a brother of the late Rev. D. E. and
T. H. Nevin. He was educated in Chillicotlie, Ohio,
Sewickley Academy, and Jefferson College, where he
graduated in 1842. For a number of years he was
engaged in the drug business, at the same time writing
articles for KnlGkerbocker, Atlantic, Lip2yincott''s, and
other magazines. He was also, for years, editor of the
Leader, then of the Times in Pittsburg.

Hon. D. N. White, while he was identified with all
the intblic interests of the place, deserves especial men-
tion in connection with this cemetery. He was the very
founder of it, its superintendent, and did more than any
one else to make it the beautiful place it is. With a will
that surmounted all obstacles, he toiled on in this work,
sure of the success that at last crowned his efforts. His
death removed one of Sewickley 's best men.

As time sped on, new houses sprang \\\) in many
j^laces, many more families came to settle here, and
new faces were seen on our streets. What a feeling of
prosj^erity and security there was. How proudly fathers
and mothers looked upon the children in their homes,
and with what a fond lio})e for the future did they think
of the sons and daughters grown to maturity.

2 -is Lights and Shadows of SeicicMey Life.

Wlien the civil war broke out, it seemed hardly pos-
sible that any of " our boys" would be called to go ; but,
as the cloud grew blacker and the conflict waged fiercer,
a company was organized and the boys began drilling.
The new Presbyterian Church, which was just roofed and
floored, was used for this j^urpose, and night after night,
23arents and sisters, sweethearts and friends, gathered in
as spectators.

The Sunday before the company left to be mustered
into service, they attended morning service in the Pres-
byterian Church and evening service in the Methodist.
In the evening, as they walked two by two up the aisle
to their allotted pews, the congregation sang,

" There is rest for the weary."

On the forenoon of the day they left, July 6, 1861,
they assembled, in company with many friends, in the
Presbyterian Church, when beautiful swords were pre-
sented to Captain Meyers and Lieutenants Shields and
Nevin. The presentation speech was made by J. W. F.
White, Esq. Each man in the company was at the same
time presented with a New Testament, and addressed in
appropriate terms by Pev. James Allison. They took
the afternoon train for the city, to go from thence to
Philadelphia. That day was one never to be forgotten.
With breaking hearts, amid forced smiles and many
tears, the relatives and friends bade them good-by.

" Brave boys were they,

Gone at their country's call ;
And yet, and yet we could not forget
That many brave boys must fall."

Lights and Shadows of Seioicldei/ Life.

249

They left Pittsburg the same afternoon for Phihidel-
pliia, and were mustered into service July 11.

MUSTER-EOLL OF SEWICKLEY COMPANY.

Captain, Conrad U. Meyer.
First Lieutenant, William C. Shields.
Second Lieutenant, John I. Nevin.
Orderly Sergeant, W. E. Stokes.
First Sergeant, George Grady.
Second Sergeant, James O'Rourke,
Third Sergeant, Robert M. Irwin.
Fourth Sergeant, Nicholas Way.
First Corporal, John D. Tracy.
Second Corporal, James Cooper.
Third Corporal, T. J. Hamilton.
Fourth Corporal, James D. Travolli.
Fifth Corporal, AVm. Camei'on.
Sixth Coi'poral, Albert Moore.
Seventh Corporal, Luther N". Guy.
Eighth Corporal, Samuel B. McKown.
Fifer, Abraham McCray.
Drummer, Alexander Ingram.
Wagoner, Philip Emmert.

Wagoner, John Trunick.
Joseph Ball.
E. Bendenburg.
W. K. Boyle.
Benjamin Bryan.
John T. Boyle.
Peter Conway.
George Carson.
Wm. Callahan.
Henry Chessman.
Barney Connolly.
Stephen Con well.

John B. Crownover,
J. B. Cochran.
John S. Dickson.
John Donahoe.
James Dalzell.
H. H. Doyle.
Wm. Dut;;dale.
George Davis.
Albert Earle.
Nelson Edwards.
Bernard Friel.

250

Lights and Shadows of Seioickley Life.

James Grady.
W. E. Gibson.
James Grimes.
Benjamin Grimes.
A. J. Gray.
Wesley Hamilton.
J. R. Hendrickson.
J. L. Hendrickson.
Lawrence Hackett.
Alexander Hill.
James Hard.
W. H. Hutson.
P. S. C. Hough.
Oliver Johnson.
Robert Johnson.
Wm. Johnson.
Leonard Kolp.
E. H. Kelly.
Wm. Lucas.
Thomas A. Linn.
Patrick Malone.
John Marlatt.
John Moore.
Joseph Moore.
P. W. Miller.
John McDonough.
John McElheny.
A. McFadden.

Yfm. McGahen.
Patrick McGilley.
Wm. McKindley.
Wm. McClintoek.
James Nugent.
Daniel JSTorris.
Adam Ocks.
John O'Connor.
Albert Person.
John Park.
James Eichey.
Charles Eichey.
Henry Eh odes.
F. G. Sherbourn.
Thomas Smith.
Patrick Smith.
Moses Sherman.
Jacob Sherman.
Charles Thrasher.
Wm. Taylor.
George Thornburg.
John Trunick.
Joseph Yogler.
W. H. Wilson.
Jacob Walbert.
Wm. Wharton.
Archie Wharton.
Wm. Wardrop.

John Welsh.

In a letter dated August 8, 1861, one of tlie boys
said, writing from Camp Geary, Sandy Hook, Md. :

'" We have now been under canvas four weeks, and, if
I may judge from that small term of experience, I think
the evils of camp-life have been greatly exaggerated by

Lights and Shadows of Seitnekley Life, 251

anxious friends at liome ;" and again, " The progress of
our regiment from Camp Coleman to the southern con-
fines of Pennsylvania was a constant ovation. When we
entered the cars at Pliiladelphia for Baltimore, the peo-
ple thronged us Avith profuse offerings of bread, butter,
cheese, coftee, etc. ; bareheaded women came up, press-
ing upon our acceptance their eager gifts, until, with all,
our stuffed and crammed haversacks could contain no
more. Strangers shook our hands like old friends, and
with tears in their eyes invoked God's benediction upon
us and our mission. This scene was repeated, on a
smaller scale, at every station. You can imagine the
influence of such a valedictory upon impressionable
young men gathered, like those of our company, from
country villages. The remembrance of such farewell
scenes serves to hedge around the soldier's heart with a
strong sense of the sacredness of his cause, and really,
I believe, to shield him, in some measure, against evils
otherwise considered inseparable from camji-life. The
scenery around our encampment here is grand and beau-
tiful. Lofty mountains fling their shadows down upon us,
and send us grateful breezes, while at our feet flows the
narrow Potomac, — at our feet, figuratively speaking, for
it is really inaccessible to us, as our pickets forbid all
ap])roaches to its cool, inviting waters."

Thoughts of the absent soldiers were mingled with
the duties of every hour ; anxious thoughts as to their
comfort and privileges. Their vacant places in the dif-
ferent churches to which they belonged suggested the
thought that they were deprived of all religious privi-
leges, but some of the words written by one of our

252 Lights and Shadoivs of Sewichley Life.

soldiers in a Southern camp seemed to answer and set
at naught this anxiety :

'Tis not alone within
The gorgeous fane, rich with the blazonry
Of man's device, that God is to be found;
He heard the humble suppliants cry alike
From land and flood, from burning desert waste.
And from amid the icy battlements
That glitter 'neath the Arctic skies. He hears
His children's cry from leafy mount and from
The quiet vale, where every Sabbath morn
The voice of prayer and melody is heard
Amid the whispering trees, that seem the while
To listen by the rippling stream unto
Each thrilling strain.

God's church is in the camp!
Blest thought, that half obliterated the pang
Of sepai'ation from the dear ones far away ;
That lightens all the soldier's toils ;
That soothes his sorrow^s, and that makes him look
Unfearing, in a holy cause, npon
The race of danger and of death ! Blest thought !
Triumphantly it floats on angel wings
Above the bristling bayonet's flash, the roll
Of battle-must'ring drum, the booming roar
Of cannon, and the clash of arms within
The battle's dead afi'ray !

Shut out from all
The world, afar from home, with no kind voice
To charm the lonely hour, no loving hand
To soothe him on his couch of pain, no ear
To listen to his last faint words in death,
AVhere shall the soldier look for hope, for peace, and
comfort there?

Lights and Hhadoiv.s of Sewlcklci/ Life. 253

Thanlc (iod! religion is
Not bound : 'tis free us air of heaven ! Where'er
Life's pulses throb through feeling, human hearts,
Its sweet and holj' power is felt. It comes
Unto the cam]), where iron-hearted men
Have gathered at their countrj^'s call to fight
For Justice, Home, and Liberty ! and hearts.
Which never felt its influence before,
Are bi-ought in a mysterious way to feel
And own its blessed sway.

Henceforth the camp,
Divested of its former character
For vice and immorality, shall be
Redeemed unto the cause of virtue ;
While men shall stronger, purer, better grow
Within its school of patience, manly toil
And danger."

Long letters from lionie, and many tokens of re-
membrance, many articles of food to vary their plain
fare, and articles of clothing, were sent by those at
home.

A band of girls, under the leadership of Miss Rebecca
Way, met in the Presbyterian Clinrch week after week to
sew flannel shirts for the boys, and many a heart-sick,
longing sigh and anxious tliought were given to those
who were risking their lives under " the starry banner,"
while they strove to cheer each other in their work. How
we miss the brioht smile and kind words of this, one of
the noblest and best of women, who gave herself so untir-
ingly to work for the soldiers, since the Master called her
" up higher ;" but the fragrance of her holy life still
lingers,

Mrs. Gazzam was another one whose prayers and

254 Lights and Shadows of Sewlckley Life.

time and strength were given to the sokliers. In com-
pany with a young friend, she walked to " Fair Oaks"
from Sewickley every montli, collecting by the way the
sum, great or small, that each jDcrson was willing to give
to help buy food and clothing for our own and other
soldiers. Many other noble women gave themselves to
this " labor of love."

The first death in Company G, Sewickley Rifles, was
that of A. Jackson Gray, just six months from the day
he left Sewickley. A daily paper contained the follow-
ing notice :

" Died. — At Camp Goodman, Point of Eocks, Md.,
January 6, 1862, Private A. Jackson Gray, Co. G, 28th
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.

" At a meeting of the company, the following resolu-
tions were adopted :

" Resolved, That we, his fellow-soldiers, tender our sincere sym-
pathies to his family in their bereavement; for, as they have
lost an affectionate son and brother, so have we lost a kind and
cheerful comrade, and our country a good man and true.

^'Resolved, That although he was denied the death that a
soldier covets — that of the battle-field— and suffered that which
alone he shrinks from — a death by disease, far from home, — yet
he did his duty, fought long and well against the hardships of
the wintry picket, and gave up his young life for his country as
gloriously and well as those who have the privilege of dying for
it on the field of glory; for 'The}' also serve who only stand and
wait; "

The news of this death seemed to touch the hearts of
the people and lead them to work more and pray more
for those who were left, during the months of suffering
and anxiety that followed.

Lights and tShadoics of /"ScLvicJdey Life. 255

The second deatli in Company G was that of Jose[)h
Moore, brother of Mr. Alfred A. Moore of the same
company. He was attacked with typhoid fever, and
after a short ilhiess died in the " General Hospital" at
Frederick City, Md., ^Nlarch 14, 1862. He was buried
in the National Cemetery at Frederick City.

Although his brother did not arrive until two days
after his deatli, he was comforted by knowing that all
that loving hands could do to smooth the pillow of the
dear one had been done, and he returned to the post of
duty cheered by the hope of a joyful reunion in " the
land of peace and joy," when all the trials and battles of
this earthly life are over.

How eagerly the daily paper was looked for, and with
what fear and dread, after the new^s of a battle, were the
lists of " Killed, wounded, and missing" eagerly scanned.
Sometimes it was laid aside with a prayer of thanksgiving
that the dear one had been spared, and again it was cast
aside with a bitter wail of anguish, and a cry for strength
to the God of battles for grace to say, " Thy will be
done," as the records revealed the fact that heart and
home were made desolate. AVhat a crushing blow^ was
that which fell upon us when the news came that at the
battle of Antietam, fourteen months after the company
had left home, in addition to many wounded, three of
the boys had been killed.

Of all the dark days of that cruel war, of the many
trying scenes through which the people passed, none
left so deep a shadow as the one on which the bodies of
James D. Travelli, John Dickson Tracy, and William
C. Richey were brought home and buried in our new

256 Lights and Shadows of SewicHey Life.

cemetery, — three boys who left home that bright clay in
July, hoping soon to return. Services were held in the
Presbyterian Church, which was crowded to overflowing.
The services were introduced by singing a part of the
one hundreth Psalm, after which a portion of Scripture
was read by the E,ev. A. Williams, D.D. Prayer was of-
fered by the Pev. David McKinney, D.D., followed by
an address by Pev. L. P. McAboy, D.D., and another by
Pev. James Allison, pastor of the Presbyterian Church.
Pev. Pobert Hopkins then offered a prayer, which was
followed by the singing of the hymn commencing,

" O Thou, who driest the mourner s tears,"

and Dr. Williams pronounced the benediction.

The vast assemblage then mournfully j^roceeded to the
cemetery, A detachment of the " Leet Guards," under
Captain P. P. Nevin, acted as a guard of honor to the
bodies of the departed soldiers. An address was made
and a prayer offered at the grave of James D, Travelli
by Dr. McAboy. Mr, Allison made the address and
offered j^i'^yer at Charlie Pichey's grave, and Pev.
Pobert Hopkins read the burial service of the Methodist
Church at the grave of John D. Tracy. Three volleys
w^ere fired by the militar}'', and the great assemblage re-
turned to their homes, every heart touched with grief
and sympathy.

The same month, William I. Nevin, who had a short
time before left college and enlisted, thinking his country
needed him in her sore extremity, died in the hospital at
Washington, and his body was brought home and buried
in the Sewickley cemeter3^

Lights and Shadoivs of SeicicJdci/ Life. 257

A AVa.sliiiigton correspondent writes to a Pittsbnrg
paper :

" The oldest son of Theodore H. Nevin, of Sewiekley,
died here to-day. I judge he was abont twenty-one years
of age. He was a member of the famous artillery com-
pany known as Hampton's Battery, to which belonged
also a son of Professor AVilliams, a son of Dr. Finley, two
sons of Mr. Marshall, of the fonndry, Pittsburg; young
Heberton, a son of Mr. Noble, the upholsterer, and sev-
eral others like the above, of the finest young men of
your city. Young Mr. Nevin came here with the battery
from Front Royal some four weeks ago. They camj^ed
in an unwholesome spot, and several of them were soon
attacked with typhoid. Mr. Nevin alone has died, the
others being now decidedly on the mending hand. His
father and Dr. Finley were with him in his last moments.
This is a great affliction. JNTay God make this severe
providence work for good to the sorely-smitten hearts
that now bleed under the blow."

As one after another fell from the ranks, others rose
up to take their places. Some who were such mere boys
when the first call was made, that no one thought of
their going, now enrolled their names beside their
brothers ; while others, whose famihes were dependent
wholly upon their work, hesitating before, now, in the
hour of tlieir country's growing necessity, tore them-
selves from home and fireside and joined the ranks.

Among these were : Harry Sterling Black, Alexander
Watson Black, James J. Ellis, William Beverland, Wil-
liam I. Nevin, Ellis Scott, Albert White, William A.Ellis,
Henry Nash, William Douglass, Josejih Douglass, John

258 Lights and Shadoivs of Sewickley Life.

Neely, James Buckley, J. J. Scott, Milo P. Scott, A. W.
P. Picliev, Sample W. Brooks, Thomas Boyd, Thornton
Goff, David McKinney, M.D., Fielding Goff, Wm. For-
rester, Madison Bonliam, Thomas Stevenson, John Park,
John Holsinger, Edward Holsinger, Bobert M. Ingram,
Samuel Grady.

One boy of fifteen, upon hearing that an older brother
had died of wounds received in battle, found a place as
fifer for the company, the youngest but one soldier in
the State. Every means ]30ssible was resorted to in order
to raise money for soldiers' supplies. Fairs were held in
many places, and the Sanitary Fair, in Allegheny, was
the means of raising a large amount of money. Gov-
ernor Curtin was present at the opening of the fair. The
following items appeared in a daily paper, in an article
speaking of the 02:)ening night :

"Numbers 9 and 10 are the booths in which are displayed ' Se-
Aviekley's offering,' and a highly creditable one it is, too. It will
be remembered that the children and ladies of the Sewickley
Valley lately gave a local fair, which realized the handsome sum
of four hundred and eighty dollars for the Sanitary and Subsist-
ence committees ; but the ladies have been working like beavers
since, and, besides contributing very largely in money, refectory
material, etc., they have gotten up a ver}- beautiful display of all
sorts of useful and fancy articles. Among other things, we noticed
a very rich and stylish dressing-gown and smoking-cap, some ex-
quisitel}^ embroidered children's dresses, collars, and articles of
ladies' wear; a sjjlendid and costly afghan ; some magnificent
photographs from Mr. Dabb's gallery, and innumerable other
articles both useful and ornamental.

" The Misses Kramer, Way, Shields, Wardrop, Nevin, Knox,
Jones, Finley, Davis, Taylor, Adair, Thompson, Miller, Cass, and
Dickson, together with a number of married ladies, attended at

Lights and Shadoios of Sewichley Life. 259

this table by turns, and arc doing everything- possible to exhibit
the merits of their wares.

" They have fixed the prices of all the articles exceedingly low,
but little above the cost of material, and expect, therefore, to sell
them off at an early day, and without resort either to raffling or
auction.

"The Sewickle}^ department is one of the most attractive in
the ' Bazaar,' and all visitors should give the articles a close
inspection. They will stand it well."

When at last the dreadful war was over, and all the
need of toil and sacrifice at an end, those who were left
of all that had joined the different regiments were about
to return home, the glad words, ''The hoys are coming
home !" were often hushed by the thought that many
who had left their homes would never return.

"Soon shall the voice of sino-ina;
Drown war's tremendous din ;

Soon shall the joy-bells ringing
Bring peace and freedom in.

The jubilee bonfires burning-
Shall soon light up the dome,

And soon, to soothe our 3^earning,
Our boys are coming- home !

" The vacant fireside places

Have waited for them long,
The love-light lacks their faces,

The chorus waits their song;
A shadowy fear has haunted

The long deserted room ;
But now our prayers are granted —

Our boys are coming home !

260 Lights and Shadows of SewlcMey Life.

" O mother, calmly waiting

For that beloved son !
O sister, proudly dating

The victories he has won !
O maiden, softly humming

The love-song while you roam —
Joy, joy, the boys are coming.

Our boys are coming home !

"And yet, oh, keenest sorrow !

They're coming, but not all:
Full many a dark to-morrow

Shall wear its sable pall
For thousands w^ho ai^e sleeping

Beneath the empurpled loam ;
Woe! woe! for those we're weeping.

Who never will come home!

" O sad heart, hush thy grieving;

Wait but a little while !
With hojDing and believing,

Thy woe and fear beguile ;
Wait for the joj'ous meeting

Beyond the stai'ry dome,
For there our boys are waiting

To bid us welcome home."

One of the number of the Sewickley boys who left
home that July afternoon, after many experiences and
changes, was at last taken prisoner. After months of
terrible suffering in " Libby," he returned to home and
friends, and the church in which that little company,
of which he was lieutenant, liad drilled in preparation
for active service, was crowded to the door to hear his
experiences of prison life. I remember he began his
lecture by saying, " In the first place, I was not asleep,"

Li(/Jifs and Shadows of SeivicJdey Life. 261

as it had been reported that, being overcome witli fatigue
and want of rest, he had fallen asleep by the way-side,
and thus been captured. Certainly no one slept during
that lecture, and tliose who for so many years read his
editorials in the Pittsburg paper which he so ably con-
ducted, knew him as a very wide-awake man, with more
than an ordinary amount of intellect.

A beautiful monument in our cemetery commemorates
the deeds of valor and self-denial of our dead soldiers.
Upon the front face of the monument an inscription
within a laurel wreath reads :

" ERECTED,

BY THE

Citizens op Seavickley,

IN MEMORY OF THEIR

Volunteer Soldiers
avho sacrificed their lives

FOR THE

Unity of the Eepublic

IN THE WAR OF THE

Great Rebellion,
1861 TO 1865."

On the south face, within the typical laurel, we find :

" Killed in Battle.
Lieutenant Wm. C. Shields.
AVm. Banlcs, John D. Tracy,

Wm. Painter, James D. Travelli,

Robert White, Wm. C. Richev,

Theodore Webb, Robert Johnston,

Wm. Wharton, Thomas Smith,

JMoses Sherman."

262 Lights and Shadows of Sewiekley Life.

On the third side we come to this inscription :

"Died of Wounds and Diseases.

Captain Alexander MeKinney,

James Scott, James L. Gradj^,

John Park, Albert J. White,

Joseph Moore, Andrew J. Gray,

Henry M. Ehodes."

And on the fourth side :

" Died of Wounds and Diseases.

Wm. I. Nevin,

Thomas A. Hill, W. H. Forrester,

Harry Black, G. W. Forrester,

Alex. Black, James Grimes,

L. B. Gainer."

The winged embodiment of Fame presides over all
on the marble shaft. She holds the trump of fame
in one hand and the laurel wreath in the other.

The Fourth of July after the close of the war was
inaugurated by a salute at daybreak of three guns, four
guns at sunrise, and a national salute at eight o'clock.

The Sunday-school children, after assembling at the
different churches, formed into a procession, under com-
mand of Captain David Shields, and marched to the
grove of Mr. Cochrane Flemiug. The citizens and
visitors then assembled in the grove, and the following
programme was carried out :

Prayer.

rev. white.

Singing by Church Choirs, — "America."

EeADING of THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,

W. A. COLLINS,
of the Chronicle.

COLONEL JOHN I. NEVIN.

Tih.:

LUjhts and Shadows of Seiolckley Life. 265

Singing, — " The Prisoner s Iloper

Address to the Children,
rev. mr. locke.

Singin(}, — " The Prisoners Release.''

Address of the Day,

rev. dr. bittinger.

Singing, — " Victory at last."

Address in Memory of our Soldiers,
j. w. f. white, esq.

Singing, — '- Sleeping for the Flag."

Kefresliments were served to the children at noon,
and a dinner of substantial refreshments to the grown
people.

After a few hours of recreation, the crowd reas-
sembled at the grand stand, to hear the reading of
the Emancipation Proclamation, and an address by
Kev. Joseph S. Travelli. Some of the toasts and senti-
ments given and responded to were the following :

"The War of 1812: honor to the few surviving sol-
diers of that struggle."

Kesponse by Squire Sample, of Lawrence County,
who related some of his experiences in that struggle.

" A chi}) of the old block : James T. Sample, who
lost a leg in the Mexican war."

Mr. Sample responded by singing, " Nicodemus was
a part of the salt of the earth." The audience joined
in the chorus. Music.

" The man that hath no music in his soul,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils."

266 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

Kespoiulecl to by Mr. R. P. Nevin.

A number of patriotic addresses were made. At nine
o'clock a fine display of fire-works was exhibited from
the lot above the railroad station (just opposite the tele-
graph office), accompanied with the firing of artillery.

Gradually the ranks of the returned soldiers have
been thinned out as disease claimed its victims, but
faithfully, year after year, those who are still left to
wage the battle of life, in company with many Grand
Army men from the city and many of our citizens,
march to the cemetery to strains of music, and

" Gentle birds above are sweetly singing

O'er the graves of heroes brave and true,
While sweetest flowers we are brinD;ino-

Wreathed in garlands of red, white, and blue."

Many a tear falls in loving remembrance as some of
our leading men speak eloquently of the days and the
scenes that saddened many homes in our Valley. Ap-
propriate music is rendered by the choir, lead by Mrs. J.
Sharpe McDonald, who has had the honor of being made
a member of the Grand Army.

A band of the wives and sisters of " the boys" pre-
pare a sumptuous repast, wdiich is spread in our town-
hall, at the close of the day ; and after the inner man
is regaled by the delicacies prepared, a " camp-fire" is
held, and young and old listen to the reminiscences
of bygone days. At such times, we look in vain for
those who were the leaders in all such work years ago,
but their work on earth is done.

This chapter, so full of war and those associated with

Lights and Shadows of Seivickley Life. 267

tlie soldiers, would not be complete without sjieakiiig
more fully of Mrs. McDonald, who, besides being for so
many years closely identified with all the musical interests
of the borough, has so freely given her time and labor to
make the memorial day arrangements a success, as well
as to everything connected with the Grand Army, in
which her wonderful musical talent could be used. For
twenty-one years, as the thirtieth of May rolls around, in
sunshine and storm, she has never failed to be present, to
mingle her tears with those who pay their loving tributes
to the memory of the departed heroes, both here and
in the cemetery where lie the loved ones from the city
homes, and in sweet, soul-thrilling music to lift the
thouofhts of the mourners bevond the scenes of time and
sense to the land of peace and joy. While Sewickley
has reason to be very grateful for the many and great
kindnesses received at her hands, through the use of the
God-given talent used for His glory, alike in scenes of
joy and sorrow, nothing has endeared her so much to
many hearts as her work in connection with the Grand
Army.

The following quotation from an address delivered at
a memorial meeting of Hays Post, G. A. E.., on August
29, 1881, exj^lains her being a member of the Grand
Army, and is a fitting close to these pages about our
"soldier boys" and the brave women who have been
associated with them :

" To-night, my comrades, there is with us one wdio,
for the past eight years, has been unremitting in her
attention to the interests of Post 3, of the Grand Army.
No Decoration day has passed without her sweet voice

268 Lights and Shadows of SewicUey Life.

being joined in the sad ceremonies of that day. At a
meeting of the Post, a series of resolutions was adopted.

" In accordance with the resolution, this beautiful
badge of the Grand Army has been made, and to
you we present it as a slight token of our respect
and esteem ; and whilst intrinsically it may not be
valuable, yet the thought that you are the first and,
I may say, the only female who has ever received
this emblem, should in itself prove to you how highly
you are held in the estimation of the comrades of
Post 3.

" Take it, and with it the love, respect, esteem, good
wishes, and prayers, not only of comrades of this Post,
but of every member of the Grand Army that knows
of your goodness and kindness to us."

CHAPTER V.

WEET peace dwells in our midst. To the
younger portion of our community, the war
with all its sad history seems shadowy and
unreal. They can hardly realize, either, the
changes that the past years have brought. For the
benefit of such let us review a few of the incidents con-
nected with some of our greatest improvements.

In the winter of 1848-9, Mr. Solomon W. Roberts
succeeded, through the efforts of Mr. John Hutchinson,
a member of the legislature, (brother of the late Frank
M. Hutchinson, of this place,) in getting a charter for
the proposed Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad. Mr.
Roberts then went to Ohio, and succeeded in getting
his bill through the legislature there ; I'eturning, making-
speeches at all the towns along the proi)Osed route, as
to tlie benefits to be derived from the fulfilment of the
new undertaking.

Mr. D. Newton Courtney, whose influence secured
much of the right of way for the new road, (a
wealthy resident of the East End, Pittsburg,) along
with Mr. Roberts, had the supervision of the road
durino- its construction. On July 4, Mr. Courtney,
as conductor, took out the first train. Shortly after-
wards, he was made "master of transportation," a

269

270 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

position which he held for a number of years. The
high esteem in which he was held by the employes
of the road, was shown by their presenting him with
a valuable gold watch and chain. On the watcli was
an excellent engraving of the well-known Courtney
homestead, still standing at Emsworth. Mr. Court-
ney's connection with the road, afterwards called the
" Pittsburg, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railroad," lasted
over a period of more than eighteen years. He is
an uncle of Mrs. James McKown and Mrs. Edward
O'Neil, whose families are well known in Sewickley.

You can hardly imagine the excitement attending the
making of the railroad, or the effect the sight of the first
train of cars had upon those who had never seen such a
thing. Almost every one in the village went down to the
railroad about the time the train was expected to pass,
all anxious to see the strange sight, as very few persons
here then had ever seen a railroad. Well ! the train
came along, and just at the foot of Broad Street, where
our beautiful new station now stands, the engine gave a
shrill, wild scream that sent almost every one flying back
to the fence or up Broad Street.

Among the crowd was a lady who had travelled on
many railroads ere taking up her abode in Sewickley,
and when she looked around, after the train had whistled
to stop, not a person was near her but the little boy she
had held in her arms, who, after giving a frantic spring,
clung to her for dear life.

It had been promised that the cars would be running
on July 4, 1851. The passenger train was not ready,
but, true to their word, General Robinson, President of

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THE WE'W YOM
PUBLIC LlBUiM

AETOB, LBWOS AND
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Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life. 273

the road, and some of the stockholders, had some gravel-
cars seated by laying boards across, and took a trip to
Economy, the end of the line, where a sumj^tuous repast
was prej^ared for them by the Economites.

When the passenger trains commenced running, we
had two trains a day, also one freioht train. Think of
this, you who grumble if a train is ten minutes late, when
we now have sixty-four trains in all, arriving and depart-
ing from the station every twenty-four hours during the
week, and seventeen on Sunday. The car-fare then be-
tween Allegheny and Sewickley was twenty-five cents for
a single trip, and a quarterly ticket ten dollars.

Upon arriving from Allegheny, after a day spent in
shopping and seeing the sights, it was a very common
thing to hear persons say to each other, on alighting
from the train ; "Why, were you on the cars?" scarcely
realizing that a fellow-passenger could travel near and
not be known, as they always were on boat or stage.

For a long time after the railroad was in operation,
some of the residents still j)referred travelling by the
river route. The trip to the city was always a holiday,
and the sail on the river much pleasanter, they thought,
than the very short ride on the cars.

One day, an old lady, who had come from somewhere
back in the country to take the train for the city, meet-
ing a friend struck up a conversation. The train was
about to move oft' just as the conversation was becoming-
interesting, and our friend called to the conductor, wav-
ing her hand excitedly, to " wait a little." Some of the
by-standers, taking in the situation, hurried her off.

Mr. Samuel McCleery, of our borough, who was at

274 Lights and Shadows of Seinchley Life.

tlmt time a mercliant of New Brigliton, being burgess
of the borough, used his influence that the right of way
might be secured, and with the co-operation of Edward
Hoops, Silas Merrick, Squire Chamberlin, Dr. Stanton,
Benjamin Rush Bradford, and others, was successful.
Appreciating Mr. McCleery's efforts on behalf of the
new road, a committee waited upon him three times,
composed of the leading business men of the Beaver
Valley and Pittsburg; General Kobinson and the di-
rectors ; and the engineers, among whom were the late
Frank M. Hutchinson and William P. Shinn, J. D.
Layng, and Edward Warner, and urged him to accept
the position. He was about starting for Chicago, with a
view to oj^ening up a mercantile business with Pittsburg,
but decided to accept the position thus urged upon him,
and commenced duty, March 25, 1852. Mr. Lake, who
was an engineer on the Pennsylvania Poad, was placed
in charge of the train, which by this time ran from
Pittsburg to New Brighton. Mr. Andrew Morrow and
Mr. Wm. Beeabout were brakesmen and Mr. Andrew
Hoag, baggage-master. Mr. Morrow afterwards became
baggage-master, and for the past thirty-two years has
filled the position of conductor. He is well-known to
our citizens who travel on the trains as the soul of honor
and faithfulness to duty.

Mr. Beeabout's sons are now connected with the road
in different positions, while Mr. Hoag is a wealthy mer-
chant of Steubenville.

A few days after the train, with its newly-appointed
force, had begun to run, the first trouble with the road was
experienced. There had not been such high water since

SAMUEL McCLEERY.

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRA n^

ASTOB, LENOX .vNl'

TILDESN FOUNOAJ'iii -s

E L

Lights and Shadows of Sewiehley Life. 211

tlie flood of 1832 as that April rise; the ground at Leets-
dale and many places below was entirely submerged.
When the train, which had been ploughing its way
through the deep water, stopped at Beaver Station, the
question was agitated as to the advisability of going on ;
but it was decided not to make the attempt. While
still discussing the matter, the newly-made road, at a
distance of about two hundred feet from the train,
plunged into the mouth of the Big Beaver, completely
filling the outlet lock of the Beaver Canal, so that the
road was submerged behind them to the depth of several
feet. The train with its occupants was " quarantined"
for two days, at the end of which time,, the water having
subsided somewliat, the train returned to Pittsburg.

The first collision on the road occurred about fifty
feet from Osburn Station, near the residence of the
late General Cass. The cause was this : an eastward
bound freight train had stopped at Haysville to take
on water, when a westward bound train, loaded with
iron for the completion of the road, came along. After
a time it was decided to back the freight train to Se-
wickley, as tlie dense fog that morning made it dan-
gerous to try to go on. The passenger train due at
the time had reached Sewickley, and J. W. F. White,
Esq., T. H. Nevin, D. N. White, and others, had come
aboard, when, as if by inspiration, (as he said after-
wards,) Conductor McCleery advised his engineer to
run very slowly, no faster than a walk, tlirough the
fog. He had reached the baggage-car, had his hand
on the inside of the door, when suddenly the backing-
train struck their train and he was sent flying the length

278 Lights and Shadows of Seivickley Life.

of the car. Happily no one was much hurt, had merely
a good shaking up.

Upon the opening of the road to Fort Wayne, it was
thought best to have an agent in the East to work up
and advertise the new road, and Mr, McCleery was
chosen. He was very efficient in this work, but after
a year's faithful service he returned.

After he had decided to give up his railroad work, he
became associated with Wm. H. Smith, formerly editor of
the Post, and Joseph R,. Hunter, one of Pittsburg's best
salesmen in the grocery business. Continued ill-health
caused him to seek a home in the sunny South, and he
purchased a sugar plantation about eighty-five miles from
New Orleans, on the Bayou Teche, near the farm of the
celebrated Joseph Jefferson, the actor ; but at the end of
three years he returned with his wife and four children
to Sewickley.

In spite of the reverses which came from the loss
of the oil refinery, in which he was largely interested,
on Herr's Island, during the great " oil flood," his
perseverance carried him through, and now he is one
of Sewickley's wealthy men. Mr. McCleery married
Miss Sheet, of Salem, who comes of a highly intel-
lectual family, counting three ministers and five law-
yers among its members.

The first station-house was a shed, made of rough
boards. It stood just across the track from where the
telegraph office is now, and the hapless passengers often
rubbed their benumbed fingers as they waited for a train
" overdue." The next station was quite an improvement
on this. It was built on the opposite side of the track, a

JOSEPH W. WARREN.

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRAR'

ASTOB, LBTTOX AND

TILDBN FOUNDAnt^N*

B IL

Lights and Shadows of ScwicJdey Life. 281

small frame buildiDg, on the s])ot where a third stsition, a
brick building now used as a freight depot, stands.

AVe had a ticket agent in the second station, Mr.
Samuel Garrison, who also sold confectionery for the
accommodation of the patrons of the road.

]Mr. Joseph W. Warren, the present station-master, has
filled the position since 1859. Nothing further is neces-
sary to tell of his faithfulness to duty, and the perfect
satisfaction w^ith which he has filled the position, than
the number of years he has served. Mr. Warren climbed
the telegraph pole, cut the wire, and set up the instru-
ments for the telegraph service in the frame station that
took the place of the one fii'st mentioned. How the
l^eople did crowd around the window when they heard
the click, click, and saw the movement of Mr. Warren's
fingers, wanting to know^ all about his seiving-machine.
The first pay message that was received was from Cleve-
land, sent by Mr. Cochrane Fleming to tlie family at
home, one day in Atigust, 1859, to have the carriage to
meet him on the arrival of the evening train.

The success of the public library was the result of
Mr. AVarren's energy. When president of the board
of school directors, knowing the fund for the sui)port of
the library was getting very low, he offered to get up a
dramatic entertainment to help tide them over their diffi-
culty. He showed such marked ability in this line, that
year after year the people greeted his entertainments
with such enthusiasm that through his efforts 1^1000
have been added to the fund, making the village library
an insured success.

All the officials at the Sewicklev station are kind.

282 Lights and Shadows of Sevnckley Life.

polite, and obliging, always ready to give information to
the public, and to attend to every duty.

The accommodations for travel are better here than
even the suburban towns of Chicago, making it as con-
venient for business men to live here as anywhere on the
outskirts of Pittsburg. Ministers, judges, doctors, lawyers,
and editors are here in great numbers. Our main street,
it is often remarked, reminds one of a fashionable water-
ing-place, from the numberof carriages, phaetons, carts,
and drags that pass up and down on summer evenings.

Sewickley was incorporated July 6, 1853. Those who
have filled the ofiice of Burgess since Sewickley became a
borough are the following persons, — Robert Hopkins,
David R. Miller, Alexander McElwain, S. D. Miller,
T. H. Nevin, William Harbaugh, R. McCready, John
Thompson, D. N. White, Robert Watson, F. M. Hutch-
inson, James Woodburn, G. W. Cochran, Samuel Mc-
Kelvey, W^illiam Stanton, J. Kidd Fleming, William
Miller, Albert Moore, Van R. Smith, R. J. Feltwell,
J. B. Reno.

Our present Burgess, Hon. George H. Anderson, is
now serving his third term. He was born in Pittsburg,
in 1832. He was trained to the tannins; and leather
business, and although a successful business man, his
talents and his ability to fill important public positions
being appreciated, he was chosen for one position of
trust after another. His career as State senator, to
which position he was elected in 1870, and filled for
six years, is well and favorably known, being made
speaker of that body in 1873. From 1877 to 1881 he
was postmaster of Pittsburg. He is Vice-President of

HON. GEORGE H. ANDERSON.

TEE NEW YORK 1

PUBIIC LIBRAE" '

ASTOB, LE^OX iXD

TILDBN FGU?a)ft.TU!S8

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Lights and Shadoios of Sewickley Life. 285

the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce. For the pust
twelve years lie has been actively engaged in the fire-
brick business. Mr. Anderson was married in 1854 to
Miss Nancy H. Darsie, only daughter of Hon. George
Darsie. They reside on Grant Street.

SEWICKLEY WATER SUPPLY.

Among the early recollections of Sewickley are many
connected with the old wells and sj^rings which furnished
a bountiful supply of water for the inhabitants.

How people open their eyes in wonder sometimes,
when we tell them of the long walks that had to be
taken to the well or spring, as the case might be ; and
many stories are laughingly told of the chance (?) meet-
ings at the side of one old well, famed for the icy cold-
ness of the sparkling fluid poured from " The old oaken
bucket that hung in the well," where Isaac met the fair
Rebecca tliat henceforth was to gladden his heart and
home. As the village increased in size and population,
the water supply proved inadequate for the wants of
the scattered })opulation, and cisterns for holding filtered
rain-water were introduced. The first one made in
the village (in 1853) was for Mr. James Ellis, soon
after the completion of his new house on Beaver
Street, at the head of Chestnut. The clear, cold,
soft water was prized very highly, and was eagerly
sought in cases of sickness. Dr. Alexander Black,
a near neighbor, used it in the preparation of his
medicines, and during the last illness of Dr. Worth-
ington, the nurse would allow the use of none but
the healthful rain-water .

286 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

During a long-continued diy spell, when the cisterns,
of which there were soon quite a number, were almost
empty, how the people eagerly watched the gathering-
clouds and longed for the showers that often passed over
the hill towards Pittsburg or some other favored spot.
When the lightning's flash and roar of thunder, followed
by the patter of " rain on the roof," assured us we were
not to suffer, these sounds were as music to our ears.

A still increasing population and the dread of fire, for
which no provision was made, caused the people to agi-
tate the question of having water-works, and supplying
the town with water from the springs scattered so plen-
tifully over the hills ; so, in 1870-71, the project was
carried out. One hundred acres of ground were pur-
chased, and under the supervision of engineers Ediburn
and Cooper the work was completed, at a cost of $95,000.

John Patton, Jr., was elected superintendent, which
position he ably filled until 1892, when Mr. Henry Nash
was elected. The supply is sufficient during the winter
months, but there are quite a number of families who use
cisterns, some filled with filtered rain-water, others with
a supply of the delicious spring water procured in March,
which is cool and clear all summer. An arrangement is
being made at quite an outlay to procure filtered river-
water for the use of the large population, with its in-
creased demand during the summer months.

We had no public hall in early days, and our perform-
ances that were not thought to be suitable for the church,
were given either in the school-house or in a large room
used generally by a wagon-maker for keeping wood.
Well ! this room had been cleared out, cleaned, and seated

JOHN PATTON, JR.

THE NEW ■

PU&LIC Ln

ASTOE, le;

_i L_J

Lights and Shadows of Sewicldey Life. 289

with chairs and benches, one evening, ready for a perform-
ance to be given by a Mr. B., a sort of mesmerist.
Ahnost every one in the village was present. An old
lady, who was very conscientious about the places of
amusement she attended, said she was a little bit worried
and ashamed at finding herself among the expectant
audience, until she noticed her minister and his wife there.
Mr. B. gave every one who would accept a piece of money
with a hole in the centre, upon which they were to gaze
as a preparation for the mesmeric state. His manoeuvres
did not have much effect for a time; at last a young man
was pronounced to be in the desired state. We all knew
Sam to be the j oiliest boy in school, and ready for all
sorts of fun and frolic both in-doors and out ; and it did
seem strange that he should be so impressionable.

With an air of triumph, Mr. B. called upon every one
to notice this young man, how completely under his
control he was ; and forthwith began to lead him around
and 2^i^t him through numerous queer performances.
Most obediently Sammy followed, his will apparently en-
tirely merged in that of his guide. Slyly opening his
eyes a little way and seeing the leader's back turned, he
threw up his hands and made such fearful grimaces that
quite an audible titter was heard over the room. When
Mr. B. turned around, Sam's face was sober as a judge's,
and he obediently went through some more wonderful
tricks. At every possible chance, when, through the
half-opened eyes, he knew he was safe, he repeated his
antics ; but, alas ! Mr. B. turned and caught him once.
The crest-fVillen man soon brought the performance to a
close after this.

290 Lights and Shadoios of Sewickley Life.

Once in a long time the place was enlivened by the
coming of a show, usually a menagerie and circus com-
bined. The wagons containing the actors, the animals,
and everything needed in connection with the great per-
formance usually came from Pittsburg by way of the
Beaver Road, and the tents were pitched in " Grimes's
field," at the corner of Beaver and Fife Streets.

Once some real Indians came and gave a performance,
which was so different from the usual shows that came
here that everybody was delighted. Before the perform-
ance began, a number of the men rode on horseback,
single file, up Beaver Street, and just as the leader was
in front of Woods's drug store (or tlie spot where it now
stands) he turned, facing the others, and gave a fearful
yell, which we understood was the " warwhoop," and
then they all went flying like the wind towards Osburn,
and were soon out of sight.

How we did like for a long time after that to go to the
woods and practise that yell, where there was no one to
reprove us for making a noise, and only echo to answer.

We have an opera house now, and home as well as
foreign talent contributes to the entertainment of the
people in their thirst for pleasure by concerts, theatricals,
etc., some of the people who once frowned down a dance,
and thought it a sin to wear a bow of ribbon on their
bonnets, being seen within its walls in holiday attire.

An occasional game of ball was indulged in by our
boys in earlier times, but now ball games are of frequent
occurrence, and there are games of tennis in our athletic
grounds almost every day during the summer. These
grounds were formally opened in 1882.

THE NEW

PUBLIC LiiiriAiiY

ASTOB, LENOX AND

TILDSSr FOUNDATIONS

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Lights and Shadows of SeicicJdei/ Life. 293

As tlie season rolls round for the anniuil county fair,
the grounds are crowded by a, gay, interested piwty of
friends and relatives, who, after })atronizing the different
booths, the country store, and ]iost-office, witness from
the grand stand the races, rejoicing with tiie victors and
valiant knio'hts.

In this connection we must speak of the

SEWrCKLEY VALLEY CLUB.

A meeting was held on Tuesday evening, February 16,
1886, at the residence of Mr. William Stanton, Sewick-
ley, for the purpose of organizing an association for the
advancement of social amusement in Sewickley Valley.
Mr. William Stanton was chosen chairman, jyro tevi.,
and, on motion of Mr. A. B. Starr, the following com-
mittee on permanent organization was appointed Ijy the
Chair, viz. : Mr. A. B. Starr, Mr. Gilbert A. Hays, Miss
Theta Quay, Miss Jessie Long, Mr. Frank C. Osburn.

The committee submitted the following report on per-
manent organization :

President. — Mr. Wm. Stanton.

Vice-President. — J\[r. A. B. Starr.

Recording Secretary. — Mr. F. E. Richardson.

Corresponding Secretary. — Mr. G. F. Muller.

Treasurer. — j\Ir. James Adair.

At the third meeting, held at the residence of Colonel
David Campbell, the election of committees resulted as
follows :

Executive Committee. — Messrs. A. B. Starr, Frank
Semple, O. S. Bichardson, D. S. Wolcott, Geo. H.
Woods, F. L. Clarke.

294 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

Membership Committee. — Mrs. John Tate, Miss Martha
Fleming, Miss Clara Campbell, Mrs. Wm. Stanton, Miss
Annie McKelvey, Mr. H. M. Richardson, Mr. T. H. B.
McKnio-ht.

Amusement Committee. — Mrs. A. B. Starr, Mrs. G. A.
Gormley, Mrs. D. S. Wolcott, Mrs. W. A. Baldwin, Miss
Theta Quay, Miss C. Whiting, Miss Mina Shields, Miss
Juliet Warden, Miss Eva Muller, Messrs. Bobt. Wilson,
G. A. Hays, G. F. Muller, R. J. Cunningham, James
Adair, J. J. Brooks.

The society decided soon after its organization to begin
the entertainments with a dramatic representation, which
was given at Choral Hall, May 18, 1886. This was
followed during the summer by a lawn fete and a picnic.
Choral Hall, which after the first few meetings was fitted
up for the use of the club, has been used year after year.

Many of the old members have been married or re-
moved from Sewickley, while some have been called to
leave the scenes of earth.

The present officers are :

President. — Frank Semple.
Vice-President. — O. S. Richardson.

Treasurer. — J. C. Chaplin.

Recording Eecrettvry. — E. P. Coffin.

Corresponding Secretary. — J. M. Tate, Jr.
Committee. — Mrs. Burrows, Mrs. Rose, Miss Anderson.

THE ODD-FELLOWS.

Sewickley Valley Lodge, No. 692, I. O. O. F., was
duly instituted January 4, 1870, under a charter granted

Lights and Shadoivs of Seivichleij Life 295

by the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Peiinsylvuiiia,
and under date of November 16, 1869, said charter hav-
ing been granted upon the request of the following appli-
cants:— Jolin McDonald, A. J. Murray, John H. Mar-
latt, Wni. Ague, James M. Doughis, P^iul F. Rohrbacher,
Robert N. Brockunier, Eli L. Mushrush, Frank Eberle,
John M. Cooper.

At the meeting held (January 4, 1870), the following
Grand Lodge officers dedicated the hall and instituted
the Lodge (which then met in C. G. Woods's Hall, corner
of Beaver and Broad Streets, now occupied by Sewickley
Council, No. 170, Jr. O. U. A. M.).

The first election of officers was held January 4, 1870,
and the following were elected :

JV. 6^.— John M. Cooper.

V. G. — James M. Douo;las.

Secretary. — Eli L. Mushrush.

Assistant Secretary. — A. J. Murray.

Treasurer. — P. F. Rohrbacher.

During the twenty-three years of its existence, the
Lodge has had a membership ranging from forty-two
to fifty-nine members, and at present has a membership
roll of fiftv-two.

Shortly after the institution of the Lodge, it was de-
cided to change the name ; consequently, by a resolution,
same w^as changed to J. Sliarpe McDonald Lodge, No.
692 ; but owino- to a decision of the Grand Lodge a short
time thereafter, that the retention of a name of any liv-
ing being for a Lodge was absolutely forbidden, the name
was again changed to its original, and so remains.

From the original place of meeting the members

296 Lights and Shadows of Sewlckley Life.

deemed it advisable to make a eliaiige ; so arrangements
were made, and the hall of Chamberliu, Thomas, and
Co. secured (now occupied by the Knights of Pythias
and other societies) about 1873 or 1874. In 1879 they
removed to the hall of J. McElwain and Co., corner of
Beaver and Division Streets, where they have since re-
mained.

Friday of each week meetings ai'e held, from April 1
to October 1, at 8 p.m., from October 1 to April 1, 7.30
P.M. Visitors always welcome.

The following are the officers for the term from April
1 to October 1, 1893:

JSr, a— William D. Shearer.

V. G. — Edward D. Sawyer.

Secretai^y. — W. E. Patton.

Assistant Secretary. — S. Y. McFarland.

Treasurer. — William Beverland.

" We admit within our walls only those who possess
good moral character, and who believe in the existence
of a Supreme Being, the Creator and Preserver of the
Universe.

"Sectarianism and politics are topics excluded by our
laws from our meetings, and we have resolved only to
know and to love each other as men and brothers.

"To do the work of an Odd- Fellow, we must attend
the couch of the sick and dying, the side of suffering
and distress, the house of mourning, the grave of the
departed, the abode of poverty and want, and visit the
widow and the fatherless in their affliction ; and also the
lodge-room, where social intercourse and fellowship ever
abound."

Liglifs and Shadows of SewicJdeij Life. 297

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.

Sewickley Lodge, No, 4'2(j, wa.s instituted May 6, 1874,
with the following officei'S :

F. a—F. A. Meyers.

a a— Geo. M. Gray.
V. C. — James Kobinson.

P.— J. H. D. Grav.

A", of R. and, S. — John S. Grady.

3L of E. — Joseph Ague.

M. of i^7— David Duff.

3L at. .4.— Geo. W. Khoads.

Trustees. — F. A. Myers, Edward Merriman, John S.
Gradv.

Rejiresentative to Grand Lodge. — F. A. Me3'ers.

The present officers are :

P. a— William Leight.

a C— William K. Hunter.

V. C.—D. C. Crease.

P.— C. T. Cooper.

K. of R. and S.—R. W. McPherson.

31. ofK—B.W. Ciiallis.

M. of F. — James Shearer, Jr.

31. at .4.— Geo. W. Cook.

/. G. — Walter Lockhart.

0. 6^.— Philip Doughty.

Trustees.— \Y . J. Grady, S. Y. McFarland, J. F.
Nash.

Representative to Grand Lodge. — John B. Lake.

Meets every Tuesday night at Pithian Hall, corner of
Beaver and Broad Streets.

298 Lights and Shadows of SewicJdey Life.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR. ■

Sewickley Lodge, No. 1105, Knights of Honor, in-
stituted May 24, 1878, meets the second and fourth
Monday nights of each month.

The Knights of Honor is a fraternal beneficial society.
It insures its members in sums of $2000, $1000, or $500,
as they may elect, at a minimum cost. The society lias
been in existence for more than twenty years, and is in
a growing, prosperous condition, having paid the widows
and orphans of its deceased members $43,000,000 in
that time. The following are the officers :

D. — E,. B. Boobyer.

A. D.—C. F. Nevin.

V. D.—E. R. Kramer.

R.—Dy. M. S. Burns.

F. R.—B. C. Christy.

T. — S. A. Chamberlin.

Medical Examiner. — Dr. B. McCready.

JUNTOK OKDEE, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS.

In 1887 an application was made for a charter in
order to start a Council of the Junior Order United
American Mechanics, the following names appearing on
said application :

Charles T. Cooper, Dr. Wm. M. Johnston, H. L. Car-
roll, W. J. Miller, H. L. Warren, Frank Grimes, S. A.
Patton, S. T. Shoop, S. Y. McFarland, B. F. Campney,
Jr., A. C. Walker, W. H. Schlumpf, E. B. Gray, E.
W. Campney, Raymond H. Tea, Dr. F. H. Smith, W.
C. Duncan, and Dr. J. B. Chantler.

Lights and Shadoios of Sewicldey Life. 299

Owing to considerable delay in procuring a charter,
the State Council officers issued a dispensation for the
institution of the Council ; accordingly, it was instituted
June 2, 1887. On July 21 following, the charter was
duly received.

The Council was instituted in Chamberlin & Booby er's
hall, corner of Beaver and Broad Streets. Originally the
meetings were held on Thursday evenings, each week,
but by a resolution and permission from State Council,
the time of meeting was changed to Monday evening.

From April 1 to October 1, meetings are held at 8
P.M., and from October 1 to April 1, at 7.30 p.m.

In 1889 the Council moved to the I. O. O. F. hall,
but the year following removed to their present council
room, corner of Beaver Street and Lincoln Avenue.

The followino- were the officers for the term beo-iunino-
April 1 and ending October 1, 1893 :

Councillor. — Wm. M. Drynan.

Vice- Councillor. — Jay McCaughey.

Recording Secretary. — Wm. H. Schlumpf.

Financial Secretary. — W. E. Patton.

Visitors always welcome.

General Alexander Hays Council, No. 275, Jr. O, U.
A. M., was instituted November 21, 1888, with a mem-
bership of sixty.

The popularity of the Council was so great, and the
object of the order so noble and patriotic, that the mem-
bership increased rapidly, until it numbered two hundred
and thirteen. The meetings of this Council, as a rule,
are w^ell attended, and the interest and enthusiasm dis-
played speak volumes for the patriotism of the members.

300 Lights and Shadows of Sewickley Life.

The Council was named for the inustrious and brave
General Alexander Hays, the father of our fellow-towns-
men, Alden T. and Gilbert A. Hays.

The Council is officered at present as follows :

Junior Fast Councillor. — W. L. Hay.

Councillor. — Clark McPherson.

Vice- Councillor. — J. B. McPherson.

Recording Secretary. — J. B. Chan tier.

Assistant Recording Secretary. — J. H. McQueen.

Financial Secretary. — G. F. Bark well.

Treasurer. — George W. Beatty.

Warden. — Walter Lockhart.

Conductor. — James Shearer.

Liside Sentinel. — Park Bonham.

Outside Sentinel. — W. J. Stewart.

Trustees. — W. L. Hay, James Shearer, J. H. McQueen.

Committee to Advisory Council. — T. H. B. Patterson,
J. H. McQueen.

Sewickley Conclave, No. 93, Improved Order of Hep-
tasophs. This is the second and successful effort to run
a Conclave in Sewickley. The first one surrendered its
charter, owing to a non-attendance of its officers and a
lack of interest of its members.

This Conclave took the old Conclave's number (93),
and has so far been very successful, there being a slow
growth owing mainly to the fact that there are so many
secret societies in our borough.

Our Conclave was organized Hecember 5, 1889, by
two very energetic and prominent members of the
society, — Mr. H. B. Larimer and Mr. Martin Schroeder,
of Pittsburg.

R. J. MURRAY, M.D.

JOHN D. McCORD, JR.

wnu\m..!t.'. STJ^

IKS NEW W!^?^

PUBLIC l;

ASTOB, LlKOIi AND

TILDBN F0UNDAT10iN3

B L

Li(/hf.s (Old Shndows of SewicMey Life. 303

Our first officers were :

Past Arclion. — L. L. McClelland.

Archon. — F. H. Sniitli.

Provost. — ]). Leet S. Neely.

Prelate. — W. M. Drynan.

Financier. — O. L. Sclilumpf,

Secretary. — Charles D. Kicliardsoii.

Treasurer. — Robert Ruttkam]).

Inspector. — Frank Scott.

Warden. — H. L. Hegner.

Sentinel. — George H. Kudisil.

Medical Examiner. — J. B. Chantlei'.

Trustees.— Q\QOYge S. Cotton, W. M. Gibb, F. L.
Stevenson.

Present officers (1893):

Past Archon. — R. J. Feltwell.

Archon. — Daniel Cliallis.

Provost. — Pliilip S. Doughty.

Prelate. — Fielding B. Goff.

Financier. — O. L. Schlumpf.

Secretary. — Charles D. Richardson.

Treasurer. — George H. Hes-ner.

Warderi. — D. R. Scott.

Sentinel. — Bernard Simon.

Medical Examiners. — J. B. Chantler, S. D. Jennings.

Meet second and fourth Thursdays of each month, at
Conclave Hnll, corner of Beaver and Lincoln Avenues,
Sewickley, Pa.

I am indebted to the secretaries of the Vallev Club
and the secret societies for the foreooins; information.

The past forty-two years have given us the railroad,

304 Lights and Shadoivs of Seicichley Life.

telegraph and telephone, a post-office, a library, ^^avecl
streets, gas and electric lights, the water-works, natural
gas, and last, but not least, a bank.

Those who formerly hid their treasures in out-of-the-
way places, of which they sometimes laughingly told, or
carried them to the city for safe keeping, can now deposit
them where he, who for twenty-five years has been the
faithful sexton of the Presbyterian Church, has been
chosen to keep watch that " thieves do not break through
nor steal."

Dr. R. J. Murray was chosen president of the bank
by those who had long known and trusted him. He
was born in Pittsburg, in 1845. He is a son of the late
Captain John Murray, who, after he retired from busi-
ness as a river-man, lived on the farm a few miles back
of the borough, where Dr. Murray spent his boyhood.

Captain Murray was of Scotch-Irish descent. He and
his wife (formerly Miss Eliza Graham) were active mem-
bers of Blackburn Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dr. Murray attended school in Sewickley and Pitts-
burg, then read medicine with Dr. McCready, of this
place, and Dr. Maury, of Philadelphia. After graduat-
ing from Jefferson College, Philadelphia, he located in
Sewickle}^, where he has an extensive practice. His
wife, who died in 1886, Avas a daugliter of the late
Pev. Pobert Hopkins, of Sewickley.

John D. McCord was chosen as general clerk in the
bank. He is a son of the late William M. McCord, of
Pittsburg.

Not directors alone, but school-mates and friends re-
joiced at the selection of one so thoroughly trusted and

JOHN B. VAN CLEVE.

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENO" AND
E

Lights and Shadoics of Seicickley Life. 307

respected. We trust many of these will live to see, in
the changes that the coming years shall bring, our young
clerk filling the position of president of one of the Se-
wickley banks.

When Mr. McCord left the position in the Sewickley
bank, April, 1893, to fill the position of teller for the
Pittsburg Trust Company, Mr. John B. Van Cleve was
elected to the position, which he very ably fills.

Mr. Van Cleve was born at Beaver Meadow, Carbon
County, Pa., and is a brother of Pev. R. S. Van Cleve,
for many years pastor of Leetsdale Presbyterian Church.
He was married to a daughter of Pev. Daniel Miller,

Mr. Van Cleve enlisted as Orderly Sergeant in the
24th Pennsylvania Volunteers, 6tli Army Corps, Army
of the Potomac. In 1862 he was promoted to Second
Lieutenant, and in 1863 to First Lieutenant. He w^as
engaged in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair
Oaks, ]\Ialvern Hill, Chantilly, Antietam, Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Cold Harbor,
Petersburg, and Cherry Pun, and honorably discharged
August 26, 1864.

After sixteen vears' connection with the Pennsvlvania
Pailroad, Mr. Van Cleve taught in Mr. Way's Academy,
and gave private instruction, previous to his accepting
the position in the bank.

Since the advent of natural gas, there is nothing to

.obscure the vision of loveliness that meets the eye as we

view from a hill to the north-east the town Ivins; at our

feet, and the smaller towns on the other side of the Ohio

Piver.

The absence of public works gives an air of quiet

308 Lights and Shadows of SewicMey Life.

and repose that is very grateful to the tired workers as
they return after a day of toil in what we once called
the smoky city.

One hundred years ago the red men had possession of
this lovely Valley, the first white settler had not yet
built his rude cabin.

Could Henry Ulery return to his old haunts, he would
scarcely be persuaded that the farm he once tilled was
now dotted with stately mansions with beautifully kej^t
lawns. The tread of many feet on the streets where once
the echo of his footsteps sent the timid deer fleeing to a
place of safety, the shrill scream of the steam-engines on
river and railroad, would be a source of alarm and wonder.
The encroachments of the river at each flood have grad-
ually carried away the spot on which his primitive home
was built on the brink of the river. Only one familiar
object would greet his eyes, and yet that is changed, — the
old tvell, which, although "a commotion in the earth," as
an old resident says, caused every other well to cave in,
did not shake the solidly built walls ; but the windlass
and " the old oaken bucket" are gone, and a modern
pump brings up the cool, clear, sparkling water to re-
fresh the weary traveller, as of yore.

Could one of the present inhabitants return one hun-
dred years hence, what changes would he find !

May each one who reads these memories of our beloved
Valley so live that his influence shall be felt for good,
and

" So hear the solemn hymn that Death
Has lifted uj? for all, that he shall go
To his long resting-place without a fear."

• ESTMBL-ISHED 1550

CL
(L

• • • Xhe • • •

H .^ewickley^^ <

J-^harmacy,

z '^

2 P. P. Knapp, Ph.G., ^

PROPRIETOR. ro

DRUGS, fT^

STATIONERY,

PRESCRIPTIONS AND FAMILY RECIPES
A SPECIALTY.

^ CHEMICALS,

0 TOILET ARTICLES, ^

CIGARS. %

5 STREET, S^W'C'^'ey' Pa-

KN^PP'S PHENATED TOOTH-POWDER

oO'.»

THE

IVIfiHjlflTTflH ItlFE IlJSUt^RKCE GOMPflHY

Is one of the stanchest and. most highly, esteemed of the fiduciary
institutions not only of New York city, but of the whole country,
and it will soon occupy its new gigantic edifice, which is to be
one of the most notable structures on this continent.

Its height from the side-
walk on Broadway to the foot
of the flagstaff will be about
350 feet. The ground space
covered will be 67 ft. x 125
ft., and the building will be
a feat in construction hereto-
fore unknown. It is to be
supported on piers sunk to
the solid rock, 55 ft. below
Broadway, the method of
sinking being by means of
caissons oj^erated by the
pneumatic process. The
building will contain about
160 offices, exclusive of the
Company's quarters, which
will occupy the sixth and
seventh floors. The Broad-
way front will be Indiana
limestone, and the structure
throughout will be absolutely
flre-proof. The style of archi-
tecture adopted is the Ital-
ian Renaissance, enriched in
keeping with the best exam-
ples of that style.

^l^jp^jii^r -^;i- (hi :;;\A

i--;? '!\ 111 ■,

1°

ft]

JAMES C. McKOWN, Manager,

PIXXSBURO, PA.

310

HORSES CUPPED BY THE LATEST IMPROVED POWER=CLIPPING MACHINE.
Jackson's Colic Medicine for Cattle and Sheep has a record which challenges the world.

U)
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a.
O

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oQ.

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XUJ

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It will pay every owner of a horse, cow, or sheep to keep a bottle on hand.
It will not spoil by age! Price, $1.00.

Other standard remedies for sale, such as Fever Exterminator, Sl.OO: Veterinary Salve, 50 cents;
Veterinary Liniment, 60 cents; Condition Powders, oO cents.

311

W. L. STANDISH, President. E. P. YOUNG, See. and Treas.

OHIO VALLEY GAS CO.

CHARTERED 1885.

COMMENCED SUPPLYING NATURAL GAS FOR FUEL IN 1886.

The first Gas Wells in Sewickley Valley were drilled

by this Company.

Its eight producing gas wells now supply nearly seven hundred
houses, covering territory from Leetsdale to Haysville.

THE SEWICKLEY GAS CO.

CHARTERED BY THE STATE.

Office in the Ohio Valley Gas Co. Building.

COMMENCED BUSINESS IN 1S72.

This Company manufactures and supplies Illuminating Gas to
residents of Sewickley, Quaker Valley-, and Edgeworth.

THE SEWICKLEY ELECTRIC CO.

CHARTERED BY THE STATE.

Office in Ohio Valley Gas Co. Building.
Central Station, at Quaker Valley.

Incandescent and Arc Lights furnished, covering the territory
of Leetsdale, Shields, Edgeworth, Quaker Yalle}^, and Sewickley.

THE LIGHT OF THE FUTURE.

312

J. McELWAIN & CO.,

DEALERS IN

DRY GOODS, TRIMMINGS, GROCERIES,
FLOUR, FEED, ETC.

Corner Beaver and Division Streets,

SEWICKLEY, PA.

a7s. RlTGHEY. J)racllcal

' HOUSE f.v^ SIGN PAINTING, GRAINING, V^aiutcr.

GLAZING, # GENERAL JOBBING. ^

COACH PAINTING A SPECIALTY.

Orders addressed to Box 7S ^-7 • t « r^

will receive prompt ••• J^eWICKiey, Fa.

attention.

CHARTERED 1890.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK,

se\?vick:ley, pa.

Capital - . . $50,000.00

i»urplus ... 10,000.00

R. J. MURR.VY, Pirsidcul.
CHAS. Mcknight, Vkc-Premlenl. E. P. COFFIN, Cashier.

DIRECTORS :

R. J. Murray, Jno. McEl\v.\in, .1. W. Arrott, Jno. B. Reno,

D. S. Anderson, Frank Si5mpi,e. Jos. W. Craig, C. G. Wooias,

Ezra P. Young, R. J. Stoney, Jr., Chas. McKnight.

MRS. JENNIB OIBB,

Dre55m2vldii«^ • hud • Millinery,

NOI^IONS, ETC.,

SEWICKLEY, PA.

;313

Frank Whitesell. W. W. Whitesell.

Attorneys at Law,

43r QRANX STREET,

PITTSBURG, PA.

RESIDENCE,

Corner Thorn and Broad Streets, SEWICKLEY, PA.

REASON WALKER,

Contractor and Builder.

SPECIAI^ ATTENTION GIVEN TO ALL KINDS

OF REPAIR AND JOB WORK.
^*\(:^XXT'\ r* ^li^^T

Pa.

OcWlCKlcy,

-^•••ESTABLISHED 1873--^ ^

JOHN PATTON, JR.,

Sanitary Plumbing, Gas Fitting, Natural Gas Fitting,
Steam and Hot-Water Heating,

BEAVER STREET, 5 DOORS WEST OF BROAD.

SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO PUBLIC
OR PRIVATE SEWERING.

TELEPHONE No. 11. ESTIMATES FURNISHED.

LOU MATTERER'S

SHAVING ^<» HAIR CUTTING PARLOR, *

Corner Division and Beaver Streets.

ALSO

t LMIESMIAIORESSINGJ^A^^

Private Entrance on Beaver Street.

LADIES' SHAMPOOING, 50 CTS.; CHILDREN'S HAIR CUTTING, 15 CTS. ;

BANGS TRIMMED, 10 CTS.

314

JIANll'ACTURKU liF ALL KINDS 01'

Tin, Copper, and Sheet Iron Ware.

REPAIRING OF ALL KINDS PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO.

TIN v.^'' SLATE ROOFING p^^ SPOUTING A SPECIALTY.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.

Beaver Street, SEWICKLEY, PA.

S. A. GHAMBERI2IN,

DEALER IN

Groceries, Jlixed famts^Pry Goods,

AND

GENERAL MERCHANDISE,

Broad and Beaver Streets, SEWICKLEY, PA.

GKO. H. HEGNER,

BEAVER ST., SEWICKLEY, PA.

—DEALER IN

HARDWARE, GLASS, HARNESS DRESSING,

CUTLERY, PAINT, SADDLES,

TOOLS, BRUSHES, ROBES,

IMPLEMENTS, OILS, WHIPS,

SPORTING GOODS, HARNESS, COLLARS,

HOUSE FURNISHING TRUNKS, HARNESS OILS,

GOODS, BLANKETS, HARNESS SOAPS, Etc.

ALL KINDS OF HARNESS MADE AND REPAIRED.

R. N. BROCKUNIER,

i —DEALER IN J

Lumber, Sash, Doors, Moulding, Etc.

STAIR BUILDING A SPECIALTY.

Office and Factory, corner Thorn and Little Streets,

SElJViCKLEY, PA.

31.3

JOHN B. LAKE,

BUTCHER AND DEALER IN

Beef, Veal, Mutton, Pork, Sausage, Bolopa.

HOME DRESSED MEATS EXCLUSIVELY, AND
ALL KINDS OF DRESSED POULTRY.

Beaver Street, SKWICKLKY, PA.

VlLl2lA/n DiGKSON,

RESIDENCE :

ThLorn Street West of Walnuit,
BOX 1V3. SEiAilCKL-EV, RM.

DEALEll IN

mRllCITE UNO BITUMINOUS COAL UNO COKE,

Lime, Common and White Sand, Plaster of Paris, Hair, Latli,

Cement, Salt, Sewei- Pipe, Fire Brick, Fire Clay,

Grate Tile, and all varieties of

Baled Hay and Straw. Heavy Hauling- and Ploug-hingr promptly done. Artificial Ice.
Orders sent by Mail -will receive immediate attention.

Telephone No. 30. SEWICKLEY, PA.

D. W. CHALLIS,
0 G^ntraetor 0

CONCRETE AND SURFACE PAVEMENTS, GRADING,
DIGGING OF CISTERNS, CELLARS, ETC.

HEAVY HAULING A SPECIALTY.

Address P. O. Box 217. SEiA^IOKL-EY. F=>75.

316

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